How to Use the Command 'idevicediagnostics' (with Examples)

The idevicediagnostics command is a powerful tool that enables users to interact with the diagnostic interfaces of iOS devices. This command is part of the libimobiledevice library and provides functionalities such as retrieving diagnostic information, handling device states like shutdown or restart, and accessing mobile gestalt keys on connected iOS devices. Its main aim is to offer users, especially developers and system administrators, insightful data about device performance and functionality, allowing them to perform actions akin to those available in the device’s settings.

Use Case 1: Printing Diagnostics Information

Code:

idevicediagnostics diagnostics

Motivation:

Using diagnostics information is crucial for understanding the current state and performance of your iOS device. This can include battery health, processor status, and memory usage, among other things. Such information is particularly valuable when troubleshooting performance issues or monitoring device health over time.

Explanation:

• idevicediagnostics: This is the command that communicates with the diagnostic interface of your connected iOS device.
• diagnostics: This is the subcommand that retrieves and prints detailed diagnostic information about the device.

Example Output:

When you run this command, the output might display various metrics such as the current battery percentage, temperature, voltage, and time since last full charge. It may also include CPU and memory usage details.

Use Case 2: Printing MobileGestalt Key Values

Code:

idevicediagnostics mobilegestalt key1 key2

Motivation:

MobileGestalt is a core service in iOS that manages device policies and configurations. Accessing the values of specific gestalt keys allows developers and administrators to quickly gather necessary configuration or status information about the device, which could be vital for app compatibility checks or device management.

Explanation:

• idevicediagnostics: This remains the core command for accessing diagnostics.
• mobilegestalt: The subcommand to access MobileGestalt services.
• key1 key2: These represent the specific gestalt keys for which you wish to retrieve values. These keys could correspond to various device characteristics like model, software version, or hardware capabilities.

Example Output:

Upon execution, the output will be a list of specified gestalt keys with their corresponding values, such as the model of the iPhone, iOS version, or the unique device identifier. This can assist in understanding or confirming device capabilities and restrictions.

Use Case 3: Shutting Down, Restarting, or Sleeping the Device

Code:

idevicediagnostics shutdown|restart|sleep

Motivation:

Controlling the power state of an iOS device remotely can be extremely beneficial for administrators managing multiple devices or for developers testing device behavior upon state changes. This functionality allows you to script actions that can automatically reset devices, put them to sleep to save power, or shut them down entirely as required by specific scenarios.

Explanation:

• idevicediagnostics: Again, this is the main command involved in interacting with the diagnostic interface.
• shutdown|restart|sleep: These are the states you can command the device to enter. shutdown powers off the device. restart reboots it, and sleep puts it into a low-power sleep mode.

Example Output:

Executing any of these commands won’t typically result in textual output. Instead, the connected iOS device will perform the respective action—powering off, restarting, or sleeping—visibly demonstrating the command’s successful execution.

Conclusion

The idevicediagnostics command offers several practical use cases for interacting with and managing iOS devices. Whether you’re seeking detailed diagnostics, accessing configuration information, or controlling device power states, this command provides a streamlined approach to achieving those tasks efficiently and effectively. Its use is particularly essential in environments where managing multiple devices or troubleshooting system behaviors are routine activities.