APDISK File

What are APDISK files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an APDISK file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your APDISK files.

What is an APDISK file?

An .APDISK file is an OS X System Data file.

OS X System Data files with extension apdisk are small hidden files used by macOS to track network share settings. They are property lists (plists) in XML format created when a Mac connects to a Windows or SMB share. The file helps the Finder remember how the mount should appear, such as the folder's display name, icon, or original volume name.

These files are automatically generated by the operating system, not by user-installed apps. They reside at the root of network volumes, especially SMB shares, and are updated or created each time the share is accessed. They are not meant for users to edit by hand; the system reads them when showing mounted network folders in the Finder or mounting them again.

An apdisk file begins with the ASCII/XML header for an Apple property list using UTF-8 encoding: it includes the XML declaration (<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>), a DOCTYPE line referencing the Apple DTD for PropertyList-1.0, and tags such as <plist version="1.0">, <dict>, and <key>diskUuid</key> among others. The file's encoded strings like "DISKUUID", "ENCODING", "DICT", and "STRING" help identify it as an XML plist used for disk metadata.

How to open APDISK files

Important: Different programs may use files with the APDISK file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your APDISK file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Last updated: August 18, 2026

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