LiniTunes - Manage Apple devices on Linux [in development]
LiniTunes ("LiniTunes is not iTunes") is my open-source desktop app for managing Apple devices on Linux. Its Qt interface brings together device information, local backups and firmware downloads.
Built in C++ with Qt 6/QML, LiniTunes communicates with devices through idevice, a Rust library, and its C++ bindings (idevice++). Linux AppImages bundle netmuxd to discover devices over Wi-Fi.
Current features
- Discover and connect to paired devices over USB and Wi-Fi.
- Display device information, software version and automatically refreshed battery levels.
- View storage usage by category and refresh the information from the device.
- Create and manage local backups, with support for encryption and password changes.
- Check for available firmware updates and download IPSW files from Apple's servers.
- Build Linux AppImages automatically with GitHub Actions.
Limitations and future work
The app is still in development. Refreshing storage information over Wi-Fi is currently slow. Firmware downloads are supported, but installing updates, restoring devices or backups, and managing media are not yet available.
Future plans include backup restoration and media management. Apple Music playback is a longer-term possibility.
Screenshot - July 2026
