Accessing iPhone/iPod File System
08 Jan '08 Filed under Tricks, Tutorials, iTunes -
I have recently made a tutorial on how to jailbreak your iPod/iPhone. Now it’s time to move on to a second part of this…
John has dropped me a mail asking how to put NES ROM’s onto the iPhone/iPod or how to get widgets into the iPhone/iPod’s file system and so I thought, why not write a tutorial!
You can not only put NES ROM’s on your iPod/iPhone if you have access to the file system - but you have access to every single item and file in the iPhone/iPod!!! Nothing is no longer safe - it’s under your control. You can write your own app for the iPod/iPhone or you can modify existing ones, add new wallpapers - all up to you!
Just for your info, same things as far as rights and warranty of the iPhone/iPod and my blaming part in this, they are the same as in the Jailbreak Tutorial!
So, let’s get this thing started:
Before we can get started, you will have to complete several things in order for this tutorial to actually work. These are kind of the sub-steps for the main tutorial:
- First thing and most importantly! You will need WLAN (WiFi) to connect your Mac to your iPhone/iPod. You cannot use any cables cause - DUH - the iPhone/iPod ain’t havin’ no ethernet port. If you do not have WLAN at your home, go to a friend or drop by a Starbucks or some WLAN bar.
Without WLAN - no chance. - Jailbreak your iPod/iPhone!!! Yep, that is a necessary step. With the jailbreak you have the ability to install OpenSSH which in return gives you the ability to access the file system. You can install OpenSSH by hacking it yourself, but the AppSnapp jailbreak is probably faster.
If you need to jailbreak it, here is an article on how to do it. - Next step is to instal SSH. SSH is either installed already if you have jailbreaked it - or if it isn’t you can use the Installer App to download and install it onto your iPod/iPhone.
- Now you need a SFTP client. You can use any client (Coda, Transmit, ForkLift, YummyFTP, Cyberduck) that you want - but if you are still in need of a free one, use Cyberduck.
I will be using Cyberduck for this tutorial because I presume many will be downloading the free one if they do not have any FTP client. If you wan to buy a client - CODA!!!! - Get your brain cleared and get a coffee. You’ll probably need it.
Sub-steps completed, now let’s move on:
- Turn on your iPhone and open the OpenSSH app which has an icon looking like a light-bulb switch. Check the the OpenSSH is on “On” or “I.”
Close SSH and now open the Preferences. Go to WiFi and turn it on. Select your network and connect to it. - Still being in the WiFi preferences, hit the blue circular arrow on your selected network. You will now see a couple of options and addresses, which includes the IP address of your iPod/iPhone. Note down your IP-adress!!! That you will later need.
- Now you can put your iPhone to the side, but make sure it stays on for the duration of this tutorial. Touch it once or twice every 30 seconds or so.
Open your FTP Client and create a new connection. Now use this info for your connection:- Protocoll:
SFTP
- Server:123.456.789.00(The IP-address you noted from your iPhone/iPod)
- Username:root
- Password:alpineIf you are using Cyberduck, your entered information should look something like this:

- Now hit “Connect” and there you are right in the iPhone/iPod’s file system! Congrats.
Wait No! Your not done yet. If you wanted to place NES ROM’s and stuff on your iPhone/iPod, you are in the wrong place. You need to navigate backwards to the very top level of the system. In Cyberduck it would look like this:
Yep - Now your done! Congrats!
Now it is extremely easy navigating in the iPhone/iPod’s files because it is like Mac OS X. Apple has built the iPhone/iPod’s firmware on Mac OS X which makes it no difficulty for you to navigate in there.
08 Jan 08 at 10:25 pm
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
I’ve been looking for a way on how to do this - but I failed with all. …… except for this one.
Thanks
09 Jan 08 at 12:39 am
I have had some inclination to alter with the iPhone internal documents. But if I ever do, thanks for the simple procedure.
19 Jan 08 at 12:23 pm
“Nothing is no longer safe” is technically a double negative meaning that everything is now safe but anyway….
an easier way would be to use the Installer because there’s an item on there which’ll install AFP and allow you to connect to the iPhone’s disk as if it was anyother shared mac on your network. so then you can mount the disk on your desktop and browse and copy the files using the finder
24 Feb 08 at 11:03 am
i am having issues with cyberduck and my username and password. which user name and password should i be using? i have tried them all.
24 Feb 08 at 4:39 pm
chris - hm - maybe your are not using 1.1.2 or higher. they have alpine as the password.
oh yeah - for the 1.1.4 update, it takes about 4 minutes to install the keys. cyberduck only allows 300 seconds, so you need to set the prefs to allow more than 300!!
max
03 Mar 08 at 6:00 pm
when I try to log in…I get permission denied. I am using transmit. I have logged in once before but now all I seem to be getting is that error.
15 Nov 08 at 2:39 pm
Hello,
Is there a way of keeping files in a folder when they are transfered to an ipod 80gb in this case. thing is have some video tutorial which are in parts say Folder-PART1, Folder-Part2, and so on with different videos. have convertedt them to mp4 and have kept them in thier folders.
The thing is when i drag and drop the main folder with the sub folders in to itunes to transfer, it renames the files with numbers and they all appear in one random line.
This makes it difficult to get to watch the videos in order.
Thank you…for any help which will come by
20 Nov 08 at 7:52 pm
how to have my iphone back after in session of winscp i erased all folders and apps? please help me
Erico