FileInsight User Guide — Tom Glander Digital

Quick start

You do not need to configure FileInsight before using it.

1

Open FileInsight. The app opens ready for a file.

2

Drop in a file. Drag a supported file into FileInsight, or use the app’s normal file-selection controls.

3

Read the results. FileInsight inspects the file locally and presents the findings in plain English.

What FileInsight can show

The exact information depends on the file. Not every file contains every kind of metadata.

File Details Basic information such as name, size, dates, format, and other useful file properties.

File Health For supported formats, FileInsight checks whether the file can actually be decoded rather than assuming it is healthy simply because it exists.

Type Verification Compares what the filename or extension claims with what the file contents indicate.

Image & Media Information When available, this can include dimensions and other media-specific properties.

Software & Creator Shows embedded software, creator, device, or application information when the file contains it.

Metadata Surfaces additional hidden information stored inside supported files.

Understanding File Health

A file may look normal in Finder and still have damaged or unreadable content. FileInsight’s health check goes beyond simply confirming that the file exists.

When FileInsight reports that a supported file decodes successfully, it means the app was able to read the file’s content using the appropriate decoding system.

File Health is not a promise that every byte or every piece of metadata is perfect. It is a practical check that the supported file content can actually be read.

Understanding Type Verification

A filename extension is only a label. Renaming a file does not change what the file actually contains. FileInsight compares the claimed type with the information found inside the file.

A match means the file contents agree with the expected type. A mismatch is worth investigating, especially when the file came from an unfamiliar source or has been renamed.

Photographs and camera files

FileInsight can be especially useful with photographs because image files may carry information placed there by the camera, phone, editing application, or export process.

Depending on the file, you may see details related to image dimensions, format, software, creator information, and other embedded metadata.

If a field is missing, that does not necessarily mean FileInsight failed to find it. The information may simply not exist in that particular file, or it may have been removed during editing or export.

Files from other people or the internet

FileInsight can give you useful context about a downloaded, emailed, AirDropped, archived, or otherwise unfamiliar file before you decide what to do with it.

Type Verification and File Health can help answer whether the file appears to be what its name claims and whether supported content can be read normally.

FileInsight is an inspection utility, not antivirus software. Its findings should be treated as useful file information, not as a guarantee that a file is safe to run.

Privacy

FileInsight is designed to inspect files locally on your Mac. You do not need to upload personal files to a website or create an account just to understand what is inside them.

No account is required.
No subscription is required.
Your inspection workflow stays on the Mac.

Tips

Try FileInsight on several versions of the same photo or document to see what changes between exports.
If a file behaves strangely, check both File Health and Type Verification first.
Do not assume missing metadata means something is wrong; many files simply do not contain those fields.
For photographs, compare an original camera file with an edited or exported version to see what information remains.

Need help?

If FileInsight reports something you do not understand, or the app does not behave as expected, visit the FileInsight support page.

FileInsight Support Back to FileInsight

Using FileInsight