IPSW file location for Mac and Windows

Geek · December 8, 2010

<div class="KonaBody"><p><img src="http://osxdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ipsw-file-location.jpg" alt="ipsw file location" title="ipsw file location" width="118" height="111" class="alignright size-full wp-image-10685" /> Anytime you update your <a href="http://osxdaily.com/category/iphone/">iPhone</a>, <a href="http://osxdaily.com/tag/ipod-touch/">iPod touch</a>, or <a href="http://osxdaily.com/category/ipad/">iPad</a>, you will get a new IPSW file that is downloaded to an iOS updates folder courtesy of iTunes. Knowing where these files are located can be helpful when troubleshooting and when accessing an IPSW for downgrade or jailbreak purposes.You can access these directly at the following locations:</p>

<h2 style="font-size:1.3em;">IPSW location in Mac OS X</h2>

<p>For <a href="http://osxdaily.com/category/mac-os-x/">Mac OS X</a>, the location of your IPSW files may vary slightly depending on the iOS device in question, but they will be located in your home directory:</p>

<p><code>~/Library/iTunes/</code></p>

<p>Once you are inside this folder, look for the device you are using to lead you to that devices IPSW download, for example an iPhone would store it’s iOS updates here:</p>

<p><code>~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates</code></p>

<p>Older versions of Mac OS X may store the data here: ~/Library/Application Support/iTunes/ in some variation of of iPod or iPhone firmware.

<h2 style="font-size:1.3em;">IPSW location in Windows</h2>

<p>The exact location of IPSW files depends on the Windows version, username, and the iOS hardware you are using. For example here is the location for user ‘username’ with an iPhone:</p>

<ul>

<li><strong>Windows XP</strong>: Documents and SettingsusernameApplication DataApple ComputeriTunesiPhone Software Updates</li>

<li><strong>Windows Vista & Windows 7</strong>: UsersusernameAppDataRoamingApple ComputeriTunesiPhone Software Updates</li>

</ul>

<p>If you are a Windows 7 user looking for an iPod touch IPSW it would be located at:</p>

<p>C:/Users/username/AppData/Roaming/Apple Computer/iTunes/iPod Software Updates</p>

<p>You can look around in that iTunes directory if you have multiple iOS devices.</p>

<h3 style="font-size:1.2em;">Where can I download IPSW files?</h3>

<p>You can get new IPSW files directly from Apple, follow these links according to hardware and then select the iOS IPSW file you are looking for:</p>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://osxdaily.com/2010/10/25/download-iphone-firmware-ipsw/">Download iPhone IPSW</a></li>

<li><a href="http://osxdaily.com/2010/11/02/download-ipad-firmware-ipsw/">Download iPad IPSW</a></li>

<li><a href="http://osxdaily.com/2010/10/30/download-ipod-touch-firmware-ipsw/">Download iPod touch IPSW</a></li>

</ul>

<p>These are all official versions of iOS firmware hosted by Apple.</p>

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