How to convert binary plist to XML

Binary plist files are commonly used by macOS and iOS applications because they are compact and efficient. However, they are not human-readable, which makes them difficult to inspect or edit. In this guide, you’ll learn how to convert a binary plist file to XML, so you can read and modify its contents easily.

What is a binary plist?

A binary plist is a serialized version of a property list optimized for:

• Smaller file size
• Faster parsing
• Efficient storage

Unlike XML plist files, binary plist files cannot be opened directly in a text editor. If you try, you’ll see unreadable characters.

Why convert binary plist to XML?

Converting to XML allows you to:

• Read the contents clearly
• Debug application data
• Modify configuration values
• Understand file structure

XML format is much easier to work with during development or analysis.

Methos to convert binary plist to xml format

Method 1 — Use an online converter (fastest)

The simplest way is to use an online tool like: plist-viewer.com

Steps:

1. Open the tool in your browser
2. Drag and drop your .plist file
3. The file is automatically parsed
4. View or edit the data in structured format
5. Export as XML if needed

No installation required

Works on Windows, macOS, Linux and mobile devices with modern browsers.

Method 2 — Use macOS plutil (native tool)

If you have access to macOS, you can use the built-in plutil command:

plutil -convert xml1 input.plist -o output.plist

This converts a binary plist into XML format.

Method 3 — Use scripts or third-party tools

Other options include:

• Python (plistlib)
• Third-party converters

Example in Python:

import plistlib

with open("input.plist", "rb") as f:
    data = plistlib.load(f)

with open("output.plist", "wb") as f:
    plistlib.dump(data, f)

What the XML output looks like

After conversion, the file becomes readable:

<dict>
  <key>Name</key>
  <string>Example</string>

  <key>Enabled</key>
  <true/>
</dict>