---
name: "plistutil"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "libplist"
version: "2.7.0-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/plistutil"
---

# plistutil(1)

Convert a plist FILE between binary, XML, and JSON format

## NAME

plistutil - Convert a plist FILE between binary, XML, and JSON format

## SYNOPSIS

**plistutil** \[OPTIONS\] \[-i FILE\] \[-o FILE\]

## DESCRIPTION

plistutil allows converting a Property List file between binary, XML, and JSON format.

## OPTIONS

- **-i, --infile FILE**

  Input FILE to convert from. If this argument is omitted or - is passed as filename, plistutil will read from stdin.

- **-o, --outfile FILE**

  Output FILE to convert to. If this argument is omitted or - is passed as filename, plistutil will write to stdout.

- **-f, --format \[bin\|xml\|json\|openstep\]**

  Force output format, regardless of input type. This is useful if the input format is not known, but the output format should always be in a specific format (like xml or json).

  If omitted, XML plist data will be converted to binary and vice-versa. To convert to/from JSON or OpenStep the output format needs to specified.

- **-p, --print FILE**

  Print PList in human-readable format.

- **-c, --compact**

  JSON and OpenStep only: Print output in compact form. By default, the output will be pretty-printed.

- **-s, --sort**

  Sort all dictionary nodes lexicographically by key before converting to the output format.

- **-h, --help**

  Prints usage information.

- **-d, --debug**

  Enabled extended debug output.

- **-v, --version**

  Print version information

## EXAMPLES

- **plistutil -i test.plist -o out.plist**

  Convert test.plist and write to out.plist. If test.plist is in XML format, out.plist will be in binary format. If test.plist is in binary format, out.plist will be in XML format.

- **plistutil -i test.plist -o out.plist -f bin**

  Same as before, but the output will always be in binary format.

- **plistutil -i test.plist -f xml**

  Print test.plist as XML plist, regardless of the input format.

- **plistutil -i test.plist -f xml -o -**

  Same as before.

- **plistutil -i test.plist -f json**

  Print test.plist as JSON plist, regardless of the input format.

- **cat test.plist \|plistutil -f xml**

  Take plist data from stdin - piped via cat - and write the output as XML to stdout.

## AUTHORS

Zach C.

Martin Szulecki

Nikias Bassen

## ON THE WEB

https://libimobiledevice.org

https://github.com/libimobiledevice/libplist