What Is an IPSW File?

This article explains what an IPSW file is, the different ways you can use one, and how to install one to your device.

What Is an IPSW File?

A file with the IPSW file extension is a software update file used with iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Apple TV. It's an archive file format that stores encrypted DMG files and various others like PLISTs, BBFWs, and IM4Ps.

IPSW files are released from Apple and are intended to add new features and fix security vulnerabilities in compatible devices. They can also be used to restore an Apple device back to its factory default settings.

How to Open an IPSW File

When a compatible device connected to a computer is in need of an update, an IPSW file can be downloaded automatically through iTunes after accepting a prompt to update the device. iTunes will then install the file to the device.

If you've obtained an IPSW file through iTunes in the past or have downloaded one from a website, you can just double-click or double-tap it to open it in iTunes.

When it's downloaded through iTunes, the file is saved to the following location:

Another way to install an IPSW file with iTunes is by forcing it to use the file of your choice. To do that, hold down Shift (Windows) or Option (Mac) and then press the restore button in iTunes. From there, select the IPSW file you want to install to the device.

You can also install IPSW files without iTunes, but many of the methods are available only through non-free software, such as iMyFone Fixppo, Tenorshare ReiBoot, and iMobie AnyFix.

If an update isn't working properly or iTunes isn't recognizing the file that it downloaded, you can delete or remove it from the above location. This will force the program to download the file the next time it tries to update the device.

Since these files are stored as ZIP archives, you can also open an IPSW file using a file zip/unzip tool, the free 7-Zip being one example. This lets you see the different DMG files that make up the IPSW file, but you can't apply the software update to your Apple device this way—iTunes still needs to use it.

How to Convert an IPSW File

There shouldn't be any reason to convert an IPSW file to another format. The way it exists is necessary for communicating software updates through iTunes and to Apple devices; converting it would mean losing functionality of the file altogether.

If you want to open an Apple software update file as an archive file, you don't need to worry about converting the IPSW to ZIP, ISO, etc.—like you read above, just use a file unzip tool to open the file.

Still Can't Open It?

Some file formats use similarly spelled file extensions that can be confusing when you're having trouble opening the file. Even though two file extensions might look similar, it doesn't necessarily mean they're of the same or a similar format, which, of course, means they might not open with the same software.

For example, Internal Patching System patch files use the file extension IPS, which looks a lot like IPSW. However, even though they share three of the same file extension letters, they're actually entirely different file formats. IPS files open with Internal Patching System software like IPS Peek.

PSW files can also very easily be mistaken for IPSW files, but they're actually either Windows password reset disk files, Password Depot 3-5 files, or Pocket Word documents. None of those formats have anything to do with Apple devices or the iTunes program, so if you can't open your IPSW file, double-check that the file extension doesn't actually read "PSW."

Another similar one is IPSPOT, which is used by the Photos app for macOS, for iPhoto Spot files.

If your file doesn't actually end with IPSW, research the file extension you see after the file name—either here on Lifewire via the search tool at the top of this page or elsewhere like Google—to learn more about the format and what program is capable of opening or converting it.