Convert String Catalog to iOS .strings online
Upload a Xcode String Catalog (.xcstrings) file and download it as iOS Localizable.strings. Translation keys, plurals and placeholders are preserved. Free, no account needed.
Pick the source format or let the converter detect it from the file.
Choose the format you want to download.
The classic Apple format: one "key" = "value"; line per string inside an .lproj folder. Still widely used in UIKit, SwiftUI and macOS projects that have not moved to String Catalogs.
Need it the other way round? Convert iOS .strings to String Catalog.
From: Xcode String Catalog (.xcstrings)
String Catalogs were introduced in Xcode 15 and store all languages, plural variants and device variations of a project in one JSON-based .xcstrings file.
Used by: Xcode 15+, SwiftUI, iOS 17+. All languages in one file. Read the String Catalog format guide.
{
"sourceLanguage" : "en",
"strings" : {
"hello world" : {
"comment" : "My Hello World description",
"extractionState" : "manual",
"localizations" : {
"pl" : {
"stringUnit" : {
"state" : "translated",
"value" : "Witaj Świecie!"
}
}
}
}
},
"version" : "1.0"
}To: iOS Localizable.strings
The classic Apple format: one "key" = "value"; line per string inside an .lproj folder. Still widely used in UIKit, SwiftUI and macOS projects that have not moved to String Catalogs.
Used by: iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS. One language per file. Read the iOS .strings format guide.
"hello_world" = "Hello World!";
"my_address" = "My address";How to convert String Catalog to iOS .strings
- Drop your .xcstrings file into the converter above, or paste its content.
- Click Convert. You get one .strings file per language.
- Preview the result, copy it or download the files.
What changes between String Catalog and iOS .strings
- String Catalog holds every language in one file, so the converter writes one iOS .strings file per language found in the source.
- Plural messages cannot be expressed in .strings files. Convert plurals to .stringsdict or a String Catalog instead.
Convert and translate in one place
If you need the iOS .strings file in more languages, the fastest route is a free SimpleLocalize project: import the String Catalog file, add languages, run auto-translation with DeepL, Google Translate, OpenAI, Claude or Gemini, and download the result as iOS .strings. The CLI does the same from CI with upload and download commands, so the conversion becomes part of your build. See also translating String Catalog files.
Frequently asked questions
Is the converter free?
Yes. There is no signup and no limit on the number of conversions beyond a few requests per second.
Are my files stored?
No. The file is parsed in memory, converted and returned in the same request. Nothing is written to disk or a database.
What about plurals and placeholders?
Plural forms are normalized to ICU message syntax and written back in the native form of iOS .strings. Placeholders are kept, and Apple and Android specific syntax is translated between platforms. Read more in the pluralization guide.
Convert String Catalog to other formats
Translate your iOS .strings files
- Import String Catalog or iOS .strings files into a free project
- Auto-translate with DeepL, Google, OpenAI, Claude or Gemini
- Download in any of the supported formats or publish to the CDN