iMazing: This iOS management tool way better than iTunes

TheSweetBits Key Takeaways

• iMazing fills the gaps Apple left behind after retiring iTunes — and does it with control, power, and clarity.
• It manages backups, media, messages, and more without relying on iCloud or Finder’s limited UI.
• There’s a learning curve, and casual users may not need all its muscle — but for power users and pros, it’s indispensable.

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We love many things about iPhones. Managing them from a Mac has never been one of them.

If you’ve ever tried to manage backups, messages, or media beyond Apple’s defaults, you already know the frustration.

Finder replaced iTunes — but not the things power users actually relied on: browsing backups, exporting messages, managing apps in bulk, or keeping long-term archives. And that’s why tools like iMazing still matter.

It’s not trying to be “modern” or invisible. It’s trying to give you access — to your data, your backups, and your device — on your terms.

What Is iMazing

iMazing — developed by DigiDNA — has been evolving since its original release as DiskAid back in 2008. Today, it’s one of the most capable iOS and iPadOS device management tools on Mac and Windows, often described by pros as a “Swiss Army knife” for Apple devices.

In real-world use, iMazing lets you:

• Back up and restore devices (with multiple snapshot support).
• Transfer files between computers and iPhones/iPads.
• Manage media libraries, messages, and app data.
• Export conversations, call logs, and attachments.
• Explore and restore selective data from backups.

Unlike Apple’s Finder, iMazing doesn’t hide power behind simplicity — it exposes it, responsibly.

From our interview with DigiDNA CEO Jérôme Bédat:

“Reliability and user experience form our core values. Many IT professionals and lawyers use iMazing in mission-critical applications. We believe that our diligent work in ensuring smooth operation despite constant changes in iOS, macOS, and Windows environments sets iMazing apart. “

Watch developer’s demo video:

Device Compatibility:

iPhone 5s–17 Pro Max, all recent iPad models, iPod touch, Apple Watch up to Ultra 3, macOS 10.10+ to macOS 26 Tahoe, Windows 10/11, and recent iOS/iPadOS/watchOS versions.

Getting Started: What Actually Matters

Here’s what your first few minutes with iMazing look like:

• Install and Activate: Download, launch, and enter your license key or start a free trial.
• Connect Your Device: Plug in via USB (wireless is supported later).
• Data Bridge via Backup: iMazing doesn’t pull all data in real time — it creates a backup of your device first and uses that as the data source. Essential device info still updates live.

This initial backup can take a few minutes or even longer depending on your data, but it sets the foundation for everything that follows.

Our Hands-on iMazing Review

We tested iMazing 3 on a MacBook Air M2 with our daily-use iPhone 13 and an iPad Air. We examined usability, features, and how it compares day-to-day against Finder and earlier iMazing versions.

Full disclaimer: we cannot check the entire feature set of iMazing. So, we have focused on areas that make a difference when managing Apple devices.

The Interface

Now that you have set up iMazing, let us share our first take on the new UI.

iMazing’s updated UI is a huge improvement over the older versions and a clear step above Finder’s device view.

The Discover pane gives quick access to the tools you actually use, and you can jump between devices, backups, and actions with minimal clicks.

We use an iPhone 13 and an iPad Air 5. So, we can conveniently keep track of both devices from a single screen. Thanks to its Wi-Fi connectivity, we don’t even have to keep them connected.

This is a tool designed for people who manage devices every day, not just once in a blue moon.

The Overview

Once iMazing fetches your device backup, you’re presented with a rich dashboard showing device info, battery health, storage, installed apps, and more — all exportable.

Apple provides some of this data buried in Settings or Finder… but never in one place this accessible. You can also export all this information into a TXT file. It would be convenient for dealing with multiple iPhone/iPad devices.

As of version 3.2, iMazing also introduces early support for Apple Watch backups and overview. While limited, it’s a promising start for users who want better control over their wearable data.

The Data Management

iMazing’s Data section is where the tool outshines Apple’s defaults.

• Photos — batch delete, format conversion, and organization
• Messages & WhatsApp — export chats with attachments (PDF/CSV/Excel)
• Contacts, Call history, Voicemail — sortable and exportable
• Profiles, ringtones, and Podcasts — neat, accessible views

This is not just browsing — it’s working with your data.

For instance, you can use the Photos app to manage your entire media library.

iMazing Photos brings a lot to the table with ease-of-life features that people like you and me will appreciate. We all have been in a situation where we want to clean our gallery, but the amount and bulk of unwanted photos may be a disaster, and it was the same with us.

But batch deletion worked a charm in getting unwanted images deleted with a single click, which saves a lot of time. It can also help you convert ProRAW images to popular formats like JPEG or PNG. It is also a lifesaver when dealing with photos in bulk.

The Notes Organization

We really like the new Notes section in iMazing 3. Pinned, deleted, and audio/video-attached notes are easy to filter, and rich formatting carries over beautifully from iOS.

For anyone who treats notes as a workspace, this beats Apple’s app hands down — especially for long sessions.

The Music Player

The Music app offers complete control over your music library on iPhones, iPads, and iPods and introduces a dedicated Music Player feature. This addition allows you to sample songs before copying them, offering an alternative to Apple Music or iTunes by enabling direct listening through computer speakers.

Note: it can’t access Apple Music streaming content for copyright reasons, but it handles local music libraries effortlessly.

The Messages & WhatsApp Export

Exporting conversations — especially WhatsApp — is where iMazing lives up to its name.

With iMazing 3, this experience is enhanced further:

• Beautifully styled PDF/CSV/Excel exports
• Attachments with metadata
• Smoother viewing than Finder or iCloud backups

For professionals needing documentation or personal archiving, this feature alone is worth the price.

The Call History & Voicemail

Call history and voicemail views got smarter, and we appreciate seeing total conversation times in the sidebar—a must-have for billing or tracking client calls professionally.

For those of us with multi-SIM devices, new columns and filters help us separate and sort calls and voicemails by SIM number effortlessly. These improvements make managing call records way simpler and more practical in daily use.

The Tools

The “Tools” section is where iMazing justifies its existence:

• Create and restore full device backups with snapshots.
• Manage apps, remove unused ones, reclaim storage.
• Schedule automatic backups.
• Encrypt backups for safety.
• Device updates and system reinstall options.

Apple’s ecosystem doesn’t give you this level of detail — not in Finder, not in Settings.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Comprehensive device management beyond what Apple provides.
• Clean modern UI with deep data views.
• Powerful exports for messages, media, and attachments.
• Supports the latest Apple hardware and OS versions.
• Advanced enterprise/control features.

Cons

• Learning curve for first-time users.
• Some advanced features lean pro/IT rather than casual.
• Paid upgrade required to access everything.

iMazing for Business & IT Professionals

This is where iMazing stops feeling like a consumer utility and starts feeling like enterprise infrastructure.

• Configurator blueprints for Apple OS 26
• Developer Mode and MDM enrollment tools
• Security policies and supervised device management
• CLI tooling for scripted device workflows

Whether in education, healthcare, retail, or corporate IT, iMazing Enterprise holds its own — far beyond what Finder or Apple Configurator offer.

Who iMazing Is (and Isn’t) For

iMazing is for you if you:

• Care about locally controlled backups without iCloud reliance.
• Want to export messages, WhatsApp, or call logs.
• Manage multiple Apple devices regularly.
• Need pro or enterprise management tools.

You may want to skip iMazing if you:

• Rarely connect your device to a computer.
• Only use iCloud and don’t need deep exports.
• Prefer entirely free tools for basic syncing.

Is iMazing Free?

No, iMazing is not free. It offers a free trial version with limited features and a paid Pro version with full functionality. iMazing keeps pricing straightforward:

• Single License: $29.99 per computer
• Family Pack: $49.99
• Business/Enterprise: Volume pricing available
• 50% upgrade discounts apply for existing users.

Is iMazing Safe and Trusted?

Yes — iMazing fully adheres to Apple’s security protocols.

It doesn’t collect personal data or risk account lockouts, and its backups are private and encrypted.

For more on security, see our deep dive on iMazing safety.

TheSweetBits Verdict

Apple’s Finder may have replaced iTunes, but it didn’t fulfill the real needs of power users. iMazing fills that gap — not by mimicking Apple, but by giving you access Apple chooses not to expose.

If you back up devices, export conversations, manage media libraries, or explore data beyond the basics, iMazing is one of the most useful tools you’ll install on your Mac (or PC).

It won’t replace discipline — but it will remove a lot of friction and frustration.

If that sounds like something you need, iMazing is absolutely worth trying.

Check out iMazing and start your trial.

Updated on Dec. 25, 2025, by TheSweetBits Team