WhatChanged – Folder Compare

Compare files, folders, and text on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Spot changes, detect renames, use Safe Merge, and verify with optional SHA-256 — originals stay unchanged.

WhatChanged is a file and folder comparison app built to answer one practical question: what changed between these two copies?

Compare two files or two folders on iPhone, iPad, and Mac and get a clear summary of added, removed, modified, renamed, and identical items. Use optional SHA-256 verification when metadata alone is not enough.

On iPhone and iPad, start inside the app or send exactly two files from Files straight to WhatChanged. It is useful for backups, exports, cloud-drive copies, builds, and any “did this transfer match?” check.

◼ File and folder comparison

• Compare two files or two folders as Left and Right

• Review added, removed, modified, renamed, and identical items

• Use smart ignore rules for hidden items, extensions, names, and patterns

• Ignore line-ending or whitespace-only changes when appropriate

• Preview supported files, keep recent comparisons, and export or share reports

• Verify content with optional SHA-256 and cached re-checks

• Use the app in 25 languages, with an optional in-app language override

◼ From the share sheet

In Files, or another app that can share files, select exactly two files.

Tap Share → WhatChanged.

The comparison opens automatically.

Tip:
The extension is intended for file-to-file comparison. To compare folders, open the main app.

◼ Safe Merge

Run a folder comparison, open Safe Merge, and choose a main rule: Newest, Oldest, Smallest (New), Smallest (Old), Biggest (New), or Biggest (Old).

The Safe Merge Assistant shows selected items, recommendations, conflicts, blocking issues, output details, and safety checks before anything is copied.

For individual output paths, you can keep the main Merge Rule or choose Left or Right. Recommended continues to show what the main rule would choose, while Selected shows what will actually be copied. The “+ Custom” indicator appears whenever exceptions are active.

WhatChanged recalculates the plan and verifies it again before copying. Custom merges use a clearly named output folder, such as “Safe Merge by WhatChanged (Newest + Custom).”

Successful merges include a generated README describing the compared folders, main rule, custom selections, copied items, output paths, counts, and safety notes.

◼ Quick text checks

Use Direct Text Compare, supported text files, or folder-pair text results for convenient text checks.

Copy a unified-diff-style result, search with Find in Diff, move between matches, highlight rows, and review Diff Summary counts.

These text tools are included for quick comparison inside a file-and-folder utility. WhatChanged is not designed as a full drafting workspace.

◼ Looking for a dedicated text workspace?

DiffDraft is designed specifically for comparing text versions and composing a clean final draft in a row-aware workspace. Source rows, draft rows, manual rows, and intentional gaps stay visually aligned, helping long reviews remain stable and trustworthy while you cherry-pick, edit, and continue later.

View DiffDraft on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/diffdraft/id6779625050

◼ Safe by design

WhatChanged does not modify or delete your originals.

Comparisons are read-only. Safe Merge writes only to a new output folder after you confirm the merge and every required safety check passes.

◼ Official website

Product information, support, privacy details, and terms are available here:

https://hazybyte.studio/whatchanged/

Requires iOS 16.6 or later.

Terms of Use: https://hazybyte.studio/whatchanged/terms-of-use/