What is a .plist file?
Apple Property List · Code and data · Apple / NeXT · 1996
A .plist file is an Apple property list, the standard way macOS and iOS store settings and structured data. It comes in two forms: readable XML, or a compact binary that starts with bplist00.
What is a .plist file used for?
Property lists hold key-value data: app preferences, bundle info (Info.plist) and configuration. XML plists open in any text editor; binary plists need a tool like Xcode, the plutil command, or a plist viewer.
You can convert between the two forms with plutil on a Mac (plutil -convert xml1 file.plist), which is handy for reading a binary plist.
How to open a .plist file
The .plist format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to open a .plist file.
Windows
- plist Editor
- text editor (XML form)
macOS
- Xcode
- plutil (command line)
- text editor
Linux
- Python (plistlib)
- text editor (XML form)
How to convert a .plist file
You can convert a .plist file to xml, json using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.plist file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .plist file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for Property List. For a full breakdown, see the Property List file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 62 70 6C 69 73 74 30 30 | 0 | 'bplist00' (binary form); XML plists start with <?xml |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .plist file?
A .plist file is an Apple property list, the standard way macOS and iOS store settings and structured data. It comes in two forms: readable XML, or a compact binary that starts with bplist00.
How do I open a .plist file?
An XML plist opens in any text editor. For a binary plist, use Xcode, run plutil -convert xml1 file.plist on a Mac, or read it in Python with plistlib.
What is a binary plist?
A compact binary form of a property list that starts with the bytes bplist00. It is smaller and faster than XML but not human-readable until converted.
What is an Info.plist file?
The property list that describes a macOS or iOS app bundle: its identifier, version, permissions and configuration. Every app bundle has one.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: