Tips to open PLIST file

Can't open the PLIST file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open PLIST files as well as a list of programs that support PLIST files.

PLIST file extension

File Name Mac OS X Property List Format
File Developer Apple
File Category Settings Files

The PLIST file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the PLIST files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the PLIST file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 0
  • 5
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is PLIST file?

The .PLIST file is a settings file from macOS. The file contains the properties and configuration of the application. It can be saved as text using XML syntax or as a binary file. Text files can be edited using a text editor, but it is not recommended to do so without proper knowledge. With Apple's developer tools, you can safely edit .PLIST files and convert them from binary to text and vice versa. However, be careful as this may cause the associated application to malfunction.

How to open PLIST file?

The main problem with Mac OS X Property List Format is that the PLIST file is incorrectly associated with programs. This is manifested by the fact that PLIST files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the PLIST file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Apple Property List Editor

The first step is to check if the computer has the Apple Property List Editor program installed. This can be achieved by typing Apple Property List Editor into the operating system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file PLIST with Apple Property List Editor. Below is a list of programs that support the file PLIST.

Step 2. Create association of Apple Property List Editor with PLIST files

However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the PLIST file to open in the Apple Property List Editor application, but you can set it manually. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the PLIST file with the Apple Property List Editor program.

Step 3. Update Apple Property List Editor to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the Apple Property List Editor program, it is possible that Mac OS X Property List Format requires a newer version of the program.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the PLIST file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. The most common file problems are:

The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. Usually this applies to PLIST files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the PLIST file that we want to open. However, remember that not every infected PLIST file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
Older version of PLIST file may not always be supported by the latest software version. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged PLIST files.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted PLIST files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. Copying the PLIST file to another location will fix the problem.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. In this case, the PLIST file is blocked by the first application to open it. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the PLIST file again. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If the problem persists, restart the machine.