Free PLIST test files and sample generator
Apple's key-value configuration format (XML or binary). Used for macOS/iOS app settings and preferences.
What is a .plist file?
PLIST: Property List. A property list is Apple's configuration format, holding typed values as XML. macOS and iOS use plists for app settings, entitlements and bundle metadata.
Why generate a test PLIST file?
- Test macOS or iOS configuration and build tooling.
- Verify typed-value parsing (strings, numbers, dicts, arrays).
- Check preference-handling code.
What you can put inside a .plist file
You get 4 content options for PLIST, so the file holds something meaningful rather than random padding: String values, Numeric values, Nested dict, Array. Pick several and they are merged into one file, with a section, sheet, slide or folder for each.
How a .plist file is identified
A .plist file has no signature at the start. A text format has no identifying leading bytes, so the extension and the reported media type are the only claims about it until a parser actually reads it, which is why validating uploads by extension alone is unsafe.
How the size lands on the exact byte
XML permits whitespace after the root element, so the padding goes there. The document still parses, and the tree is unchanged.
Negative testing with broken PLIST files
- Invalid. Identifiable, but wrong inside, so it fails during parsing.
- Corrupted. The leading bytes are destroyed. Same length as the valid file.
- Incomplete. Truncated part-way, so it is genuinely shorter.
- Empty. Chosen under Content rather than File Condition: valid structure, no data.
Which failure to reach for, and what to assert for each, is covered in how to make a corrupted file for testing. For upload limits and type checks see testing file upload validation, and for this format's encodings, UTF-16 and BOM test files.
Sample PLIST content
<dict> <key>Enabled</key> <true/> </dict>
This shows the shape of the file. Your download is generated fresh at the size you choose, so the values will differ.
How to open and verify the file
Open in Xcode, or use `plutil -lint file.plist` on macOS.
Media type application/x-plist · extension .plist · category Scripts & OS
Generate a .plist file → · questions about sizes, privacy or cost are answered on the site FAQ.
Frequently asked questions about PLIST files
What identifies a .plist file?
Nothing at the start of the file does. A text format has no identifying leading bytes, so the extension and the reported media type are the only claims about it until a parser actually reads it, which is why validating uploads by extension alone is unsafe.
How can a .plist file be an exact number of bytes?
XML permits whitespace after the root element, so the padding goes there. The document still parses, and the tree is unchanged.
What can go inside the PLIST file?
There are 4 content options for .plist: String values, Numeric values, Nested dict, Array. Choose more than one and they are combined into a single file, a section, sheet, slide or folder per option, rather than downloaded separately.
Can I download several broken PLIST files at once?
Yes, select more than one File Condition and you get one ZIP containing a .plist per condition, each named after its condition.
Can the PLIST file use UTF-16 or a byte-order mark?
Yes. .plist is a text format, so it can be generated as UTF-8, UTF-8 with a byte-order mark, UTF-16 LE or UTF-16 BE. The body is shortened before re-encoding so the finished file still lands on the exact size you asked for. Note that a UTF-16 file always has an even byte count.
How do I open or verify the PLIST file?
Open in Xcode, or use plutil -lint file.plist on macOS.