iDescriptor is a brand-new app that introduces a new way for Linux users to manage iPhones, something that the Linux ecosystem has always lacked, without relying on macOS or iTunes.
The project consolidates several capabilities that previously required separate command-line tools or weren’t available at all, turning them into a graphical, cross-platform application that is available for Linux as an AppImage.
Written in C++, iDescriptor is built on top of the libimobiledevice stack and extends it with features that are typically difficult to access from Linux systems. Users can browse their device’s filesystem, import photos and videos, and install applications directly from the App Store using their Apple ID.
The GUI clearly exposes device information, including battery data, model details, connected services, and storage usage.
iDescriptor also supports AirPlay, allowing Linux desktops to receive audio or video streams from an iPhone. A “Live Screen” mode is included for real-time device display, addressing long-standing gaps in Linux–iOS interoperability, where casting and mirroring commonly require additional hardware or proprietary software.
File management is integrated through a graphical explorer that exposes common directories on the device. On supported systems, the phone can also be mounted as an MTP-like drive, enabling direct access from Linux file managers. For routine maintenance, the application includes one-click actions to reboot, shut down, or transition to recovery or diagnostics mode.
For users with jailbroken devices, iDescriptor adds optional functionality, including an SSH terminal, network scanning, and access to directories normally hidden by iOS. These features are isolated behind detection mechanisms to prevent unsupported actions from being presented to standard devices.
The project is licensed under AGPL, and the developers provide builds for Linux, Windows, and macOS. Linux users can download the app as a distribution-agnostic AppImage.
For more information, visit the app’s GitHub page.
Image credits: iDescriptor
