Extract text from Apple localization files (STRINGS)
To convert STRINGS localization files to another format, you need Xcode or other Developer software.
To convert other file formats to the "Localization Resource File" file type, you need software like Xcode or a similar tool.
A .strings file is a text-based localization resource used primarily by Apple for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS applications. Managed within Xcode, these files contain key-value pairs that map base interface text to translated versions for different languages. A secondary use case involves game localization data for Bethesda titles running on the Creation Engine, such as Skyrim and Starfield.
Despite being text-based, the .strings format has significant limitations. It uses a strict, proprietary syntax requiring exact quote escaping and mandatory semicolons. Passing a raw .strings file to a non-technical translator or a standard translation agency often results in syntax errors that break the app compilation. Furthermore, it is restricted to the Apple ecosystem, meaning Android or Web teams cannot reuse the file directly.
To share translations across platforms, convert .strings to JSON for web applications, or to XML for Android development. For professional translation workflows, convert to XLIFF, or use CSV and XLSX so non-technical users can edit the text safely in standard spreadsheet software.
Convert.Guru analyzes your STRINGS file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted PLIST, AUDIO, PKPASS, NUMBERS, JSON, DMG, ELF, MOM, SQL, ZIP, TXT, CSV and JPG files.
If you want to convert STRINGS file to JSON, TXT, RTF, DOC, DOCX, ODT, PAGES, TEX, LATEX, MD, MARKDOWN or LOG, you can use Xcode or similar software from the "Application Localization Resources" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert PDF, DOC, ASC, TODO, NFO, MEMO, README, DOCX, JPG, TXT, NOTE or RTF files to STRINGS, try Xcode or another comparable tool in the "Application Localization Resources" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our STRINGS converter.