How to Open MTREE Files on Mac

UnFox opens MTREE manifest files on Mac by parsing and extracting the stored metadata. MTREE is a BSD file hierarchy specification format used by FreeBSD package management and macOS system internals to describe directory trees with file attributes. macOS does not include a graphical MTREE viewer.

What Is an MTREE File and Where Is It Used?

MTREE files are text based manifests that describe a filesystem hierarchy with attributes like file size, modification time, permissions, and checksums. BSD systems use MTREE for package verification: each installed package includes an MTREE file listing every file it contains with integrity checksums. macOS uses MTREE internally in some system components inherited from its BSD foundation. Developers and system administrators encounter MTREE files when inspecting FreeBSD packages or macOS system internals.

How Do You Read an MTREE File on Mac?

Drag the MTREE file onto UnFox. The app parses the MTREE specification format and presents the file hierarchy with its associated metadata.

Tip

MTREE files may be compressed with gzip. UnFox handles both plain and compressed MTREE files automatically.

MTREE files are typically plain text, but they may be compressed with gzip. UnFox handles both plain and compressed MTREE files automatically. The parsed output shows the directory tree structure with file attributes.
Marcel Iseli
Marcel Iseli

Creator of UnFox · Indie Developer

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Marcel Iseli is an indie developer and the creator of UnFox. He builds native macOS and iOS utilities focused on privacy, simplicity, and zero tracking. Based in Switzerland, every app he ships is a one time purchase with no subscriptions and no data collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

MTREE is a manifest format that describes file hierarchies with metadata, not a traditional archive that contains file data. UnFox parses MTREE to display the described file structure.
MTREE files are generated by BSD package managers and macOS system tools to describe installed file hierarchies with integrity checksums for verification.