App data

Files in an app container are encrypted on disk, so copying them as raw bytes produces unreadable data. This module decrypts an app’s data so you can open the files on your computer.

What you can export

• Images, audio and video downloaded or created by the app
• Databases, including SQLite files and their journals
• Property lists and JSON, such as preferences, feature flags and cached responses
• Caches, including caches that do not clear
• Entire directories, in a single export

When to use it

A cache that does not clear. Users see stale content after a refresh. Check the cache directory to see whether the app wrote the new response and ignored it, or never wrote it.

A failed migration. Export the database before and after an upgrade and compare the two.

A corrupted download. Open the file to see whether it was stored incorrectly or received incorrectly.

Reproducing a user’s state. Export the user’s container and load it into a build on your own device. A bug that occurs “only on one account” can then be reproduced locally.

Export app data

1. Connect and unlock the device.
2. Open the app browser and select the app.
3. Choose a directory: Documents, Library or the whole container.
4. Export it to a folder on your computer.

Large containers take longer to export. Media-heavy apps can store several gigabytes.

Reading exported files

• SQLite files open in any SQLite browser. Export the -wal and -shm files as well, or you may see outdated data.
• Binary plists need a plist viewer. A text editor shows unreadable binary data.
• Cache directories often use unclear file names for ordinary files. Sort by size and check the largest files first.
• Keychain items are not stored in the container. They are stored in the keychain and cannot be exported this way.

Limitations

• The device must be unlocked and trusted, and must stay unlocked during the export. Files with stronger data protection cannot be read while the device is locked.
• Only app containers are accessible, not the entire system. KeyMob does not bypass platform protections.
• No jailbreak is used or required.

Handle personal data with care

An app container stores a person’s messages, photos, locations and tokens. Follow these rules, which are also required by the user agreement:

1. Use this feature only on devices you own or are explicitly authorized to examine.
2. Export only what you need to answer the question, not the whole container by default.
3. Delete the export when the ticket is closed. An exported container on a laptop is a data-security risk.

If the device belongs to a customer, tell them what you are exporting and why before you start.

Next steps

File manager · Backup and export · App management