can't find /var/mobile/applications directory for ios documents

I'm trying to run a release build on my iPad device connected to xcode for debugging. I'm not certain but guessing that when I do this the documents directory ends up somewhere on my local machine and not on the iPad (as when I run it without xcode). I get an output like this for the directory:

/var/mobile/Applications/FF0F1AB2-AD1F-4E42-8815-9E399EEF5027/Documents/

but I can't access that directory. Going to /var does not reveal any 'mobile' subdir. This seems different from when I run the iPad unconnected and end up with files viewable on the device through Organizer within xcode (making me conclude that it saves them locally in this mysterious dir when run connected to xcode). Can someone help me access this mystery directory?

10.5k 10 10 gold badges 59 59 silver badges 72 72 bronze badges asked Jan 26, 2012 at 5:50 7,527 12 12 gold badges 54 54 silver badges 106 106 bronze badges cd ~/Library/Application\ Support/iPhone\ Simulator Commented Mar 19, 2013 at 16:41

7 Answers 7

For "xcode 6":

  1. Connect your device with your MAC (You can sure about that having a look into the simulator list, it should be there)
  2. Now open xcode and go to "Windows" from upper menu
  3. Go to "Devices" from drop down list
  4. Now this window will pop up. Your app should be there in the "Installed Apps" section. Like the picture below. Double click on it. enter image description here
  5. Here you can see the "Documents" folder and the photos you saved earlier. You can't delete photo from this list. Because this is the iPhone device section, you accessing through the xcode. enter image description here
  6. If you want to delete the photos, you have to delete the whole project. To do that, scroll down below the screen and there should be a minus "-" button. After selecting your project just click on it. It will delete your photos as well as whole project. enter image description here

answered Dec 23, 2014 at 8:49 4,083 6 6 gold badges 37 37 silver badges 62 62 bronze badges

If someone needs to view the files in the app, select the app name you want to reveal and click the 'cog' at the bottom, then select 'Download Container. '. Open the downloaded file and right click to show the package content. Dig the package and you will find the staff you need.

Commented Mar 30, 2015 at 6:28

Thanks for the show package content tip, an important step if you need an actual file from the package.