File Spy
File Spy is a file inspection utility for macOS that lets you examine the contents of virtually any file on your Mac. By dragging and dropping a file or folder into the app, you can view detailed information about it in multiple formats: native view, text view, hexadecimal view, and icon view. The app supports playback and display of over 60 file types, including audio, video, image, web and document formats. It is used by developers, IT professionals, and power users who need to inspect file structure, metadata, and binary content without specialised applications.
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1 suggestionFile Spy 1.1 and 1.2 are Intel-only builds with no native Apple Silicon version available. The search results show no updates since 2024, and the developer has not announced a native build or any active development plan. Apple is removing Rosetta 2 in macOS 28 (September 2028), which means File Spy will stop running entirely on that release and later. You should begin looking for an alternative now so you have time to migrate your workflow before the deadline. The built-in system tools (Terminal with `file`, `hexdump`, `od`; Preview app for images and documents; and QuickLook with spacebar in Finder) can cover basic file inspection. For more feature-rich options that run natively on Apple Silicon, consider HexFiend (free, open-source hex editor), 0xED (hex editor with native support), or the command-line tools available via Homebrew (such as `xxd`, `strings`, `od`, `od` wrapped in a GUI tool). If the developer releases a native version before September 2028, updating immediately would restore full functionality.
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