What is the UFDR file format?
A .ufdr file is a proprietary forensic report package generated by Cellebrite UFED Physical Analyzer, the industry-standard mobile device forensic analysis platform. It bundles the structured results of a mobile device extraction into a single portable file: messages, contacts, call logs, app artifacts, photos, videos, and device metadata, designed to be shared with investigators, prosecutors, and legal teams.
The internal container is believed to be ZIP-based or a custom Cellebrite archive with an XML-structured evidence manifest and binary media attachments, though the format is not publicly documented. Reports can optionally be password-protected to preserve chain-of-custody integrity - an important requirement when evidence is used in legal proceedings.
Analysts in Cellebrite Physical Analyzer choose which artifacts to include when generating a .ufdr - the file may not contain all data from the device. Attorneys and defense investigators should therefore explicitly request full extraction data (a .ufd package or raw extraction) when a complete record is needed.
The free Cellebrite Reader application is the intended lightweight viewer; no license is required to open .ufdr files. For re-analysis, Physical Analyzer (licensed) is used. The DFIR Science community published techniques in 2022 for extracting raw files from .ufdr packages to feed artifact parsers such as ALEAPP and iLEAPP.
Security & safety
RISK: MEDIUMUFDR files contain sensitive personal data extracted from mobile devices - messages, photos, location history, passwords/credentials in some cases. These files should be handled with strict access controls appropriate to law enforcement evidence handling. The report format can be password-protected. Chain of custody documentation should accompany any UFDR shared in legal proceedings.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open UFDR files
Windows3 apps
Cellebrite Reader (free)
Free Download from Cellebrite Community Portal; open UFDR file via File > Open. Supports keyword search and artifact tagging.
Cellebrite UFED Physical Analyzer
Paid Full licensed tool; open UFDR for complete re-analysis, additional processing, and report modification.
MOBILedit Forensic
Paid File > Import > Cellebrite UFDR - enables cross-tool comparison and additional artifact analysis. Technical details
deep spec| Container | Proprietary Cellebrite archive - likely ZIP-based with XML manifest; internal structure not publicly documented |
| Encryption | Optional password protection for chain-of-custody security and tamper prevention |
| Compression | Likely DEFLATE (ZIP-level) for media attachments |
| Artifact types | Messages (SMS/MMS/app chats), contacts, call logs, browser history, app data, photos, videos, audio, and device information |
| Evidence metadata format | XML-structured manifest (community-identified; no official published specification) |
| Typical size | 10 MB - 50 GB (varies with device data volume and analyst artifact selection) |
| Platform | Windows only (Cellebrite Physical Analyzer and Reader are Windows applications) |
| Generation tool | Cellebrite UFED Physical Analyzer (licensed forensic software) |
| Viewer tool | Cellebrite Reader (free, available via Cellebrite Community Portal - no license required to open) |
| Legal context | Commonly used as an evidence deliverable in law enforcement investigations and court proceedings; subject to chain-of-custody requirements |
| Completeness caveat | Analysts select which artifacts to export; a `.ufdr` may not represent the full device extraction - request `.ufd` or raw extraction for complete data |
| Third-party support | MOBILedit Forensic can open `.ufdr` files; DFIR Science (2022) documented raw file extraction technique for ALEAPP/iLEAPP artifact parsers |
| Related format | `.ufd` - companion Cellebrite extraction format from the same ecosystem |
| Versioning | Format updated with each Physical Analyzer release; no public specification or versioning scheme |
| Released | circa 2010 (Cellebrite UFED Physical Analyzer) |
| Latest version | Format updated with each Physical Analyzer release; current as of Cellebrite PA 7.x+ (2025) |
| Specification | cellebrite.com |
UFDR conversions
Community Q&A
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