What is a plist file

A plist file (Property List) is a structured data file format used by Apple platforms such as macOS and iOS to store configuration and serialized data. You’ll commonly see .plist files inside applications, system folders, and user preferences. Unlike plain text configuration files, plist files are designed to store hierarchical data (similar to JSON), making them suitable for representing complex settings.

Where plist files are used

Plist files are widely used across Apple ecosystems:

• Application settings
• App metadata (Info.plist)
• System configuration

For example, every iOS app contains an Info.plist file that defines things like:

• App name
• Bundle identifier
• Permissions (camera, location, etc.)

XML vs Binary

Plist files come in two main formats:

1. XML plist (readable)

   XML: readable format

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

   Easy to read and edit

   Larger file size

2. Binary plist (compact)

   Binary plist files are:

   • Not human-readable
   • More compact
   • Faster to load

   Apple often uses binary format in production apps for performance reasons.

Basic structure of a plist

Plist files represent data using a small set of core types:

• Dictionary (dict) → key-value pairs
• Array (array) → ordered list
• String (string)
• Number (integer, real)
• Boolean (true / false)
• Date (date)
• Data (data)

Example:

<dict>
  <key>User</key>
  <string>John</string>

  <key>Age</key>
  <integer>30</integer>

  <key>Skills</key>
  <array>
    <string>Swift</string>
    <string>Objective-C</string>
  </array>
</dict>
              

How to open plist files

On macOS

• Xcode (built-in plist editor)
• Property List Editor tools

On Windows

Windows does not natively support plist files. You have a few options: On Windows, the easiest way is using an online viewer.

• Open XML plist with a text editor (limited usefulness)
• Convert binary plist to XML first
• Use an online viewer/editor (recommended)