browse iphone file structure

[jerryk]

Hi,

I am trying an iPhone (14 Max) after a decade of using Android phones. One of the many issues I am having is how to browse the folder structure. I have an app installed that gets data from a medical device and stores in a sub directory. However, when I use the files app it does not show me a folder hierarchy, and when I type in the filename it is not found. What is the best way to browse the folder hierarchy and find the files?

TIA

 

[now i see it]

The iOS Files app has directories both in iCloud Drive and locally on the phone. Use the Back arrow button on the top left to navigate towards the root structure.

 

[NoBoMac]

Guessing Files is a no go, as OP's data is probably siloed in the app's container.

So in that case, need a program like iMazing on the Mac to browse the backup files. There are others out there (iExplorer?), hopefully others will chime in with their favorites.

 

[jerryk]

Guessing Files is a no go, as OP's data is probably siloed in the app's container.

So in that case, need a program like iMazing on the Mac to browse the backup files. There are others out there (iExplorer?), hopefully others will chime in with their favorites.

What do you mean by backup files? Do you mean in iCloud or some other place? Also, aren't the files for the app somewhere on the iPhone?

FWIW, I don't purposely backup files to iCloud from any of my Macs (I backup to my local NASes and then to AWS Glacier), or set up any sort of backup on my phone. And the medical device app on the iPhone, ViHealth, shows the data just fine if I turn off Wifi and BT, so I am pretty sure the data resides on the phone. I just can't seem to find the data files on the phone so they I can transfer them elsewhere for further processing.

EDit: iExplorer looks interesting. I think I will see if it can find/transfer the files.

 

[Spudlicious]

As NoBoMac observes, iOS apps are each confined to a sandbox directory, and that's where they have to store their files. App X doesn't have access to App Y's files and vice versa, and neither have access to system files; these are worthwhile security features. Apple also don't want users poking around, and the iOS Files app can's see into other apps' sandboxes, it's not like Windows File Explorer or Mac Finder.

The app that captures data from a medical device, is there no means of exporting data?

 

[NoBoMac]

^^This.

These "filesystem explorer" apps run on PCs/Macs and read backup files from iTunes/Finder respectively. So, you need to create a backup on the PC/Mac and then use these apps to find the data the app creates via the backup file.

As @Spudlicious mentions, there might be a way to export the data in the app. Look for some obvious things: "Export", "Share". Or box-arrow, which is iOS "Share Sheet" where export, print, etc might be available.

 

[eyoungren]

Hi,

I am trying an iPhone (14 Max) after a decade of using Android phones. One of the many issues I am having is how to browse the folder structure. I have an app installed that gets data from a medical device and stores in a sub directory. However, when I use the files app it does not show me a folder hierarchy, and when I type in the filename it is not found. What is the best way to browse the folder hierarchy and find the files?

TIA

If you want to explore the filestructure without limitation you're going to need to jailbreak.

For that, you need the right device, the right version of iOS and someone needs to have made a jailbreak for it.