How to find an iPhone / iPad’s Document folder in Xcode

Sometimes during development when you are writing or reading files from the Documents folder of an iOS Device it is quite useful to have a look at the devices filesystem. Or to the sandboxed Documents Folder of your app to be precise.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Developing on the Simulator

If you are using the iPhone / iPad Simulator for Development, the Documents folder is stored on your Mac’s harddrive:

/Users/user/Library/Application Support/iPhone Simulator/User/Applications/E599AF8C-D765-41A8-B593-A05D242CB701/Documents

You can also find the contents of the app’s “tmp” folder and the app’s preferences in the folder with the long and cryptic name. The only problem is to figure out what cryptic folder belongs to the current version of your app, because Xcode adds a new cryptic folder everytime you build your app in the simulator. So you probably have to find the right folder by looking at the folder’s timestamp.

2. Developing on the Device

Sometimes you have to use a “real” Device for Development. For example if you are using the iTunes File Sharing Feature which does not work on the Simulator. To find the device’s Document Folder for your app, follow this steps:

Xcode 3

1. Open the Organizer Window in Xcode.
2. Mark your Device in the left Column.
3. Find your App in the “Applications” section on the bottom right.
4. Click on the little triangle left of your App’s name.
5. Drag the “Application Data” Bundle to your Desktop (or download it by clicking on the black arrow on the right)
6. Open the downloaded folder (named something like: “com.yourcompany.appname 2011-02-24 10.50.14.277”) to find the Document Folder

Xcode 4

1. Open the Organizer Window in Xcode.
2. Mark your Device in the left Column.
3. Click on “Applications” below your device (you might have to click on your device’s disclosure triangle to see these rows)
4. On the right side you will see a list of your apps that are installed on this device.
5. Click on your app’s “Download” Button
6. Specify a save location and a folder containing your apps document folder will be saved.