xattred
xattred is a macOS utility for viewing, editing, and adding extended attributes on files, including quarantine metadata used by the Finder and Gatekeeper.
What is xattred?
xattred is a Mac utility for working with extended attributes, the metadata that macOS stores alongside files and folders. It helps users inspect existing xattrs, edit their values, add new attributes, and manage quarantine-related metadata that affects how downloaded items are handled. This makes it useful for advanced Mac users, administrators, developers, and anyone troubleshooting file metadata or Spotlight-related workflows. xattred is published by Howard Oakley through The Eclectic Light Company and is distributed as a native macOS app. It fits best in workflows that involve diagnosing file behavior, testing metadata changes, or exploring how macOS uses extended attributes behind the scenes.
Key features
- View extended attributes attached to files and folders
- Edit existing xattr values directly
- Add new extended attributes, including custom types
- Work with quarantine attributes used by macOS security checks
- Inspect metadata for troubleshooting and testing workflows
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Safety overview
Status: Mostly safe
xattred is a legitimate Mac utility for editing file metadata. Because extended attributes can influence how files are identified, searched, or treated by macOS security features such as quarantine, changes you make can affect file behavior. That access is normal for this kind of tool, but it is best used carefully and mainly on files you understand or can restore from backup.
Recommendation: Keep xattred if you intentionally use it to inspect or modify extended attributes on your Mac. If you do not work with file metadata or troubleshooting tasks, you can remove it without affecting normal macOS use.
Common paths
/Applications/xattred.app
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