How to open .MIDI files on iOS
To open .MIDI files on iOS, in the Files app, tap the .midi file and use Share/Open in to send it to a MIDI-capable music app; if it won’t preview, transfer it to a desktop DAW/player that supports SMF.
Step-by-step instructions
- In the Files app, tap the .midi file and use Share/Open in to send it to a MIDI-capable music app; if it won’t preview, transfer it to a desktop DAW/player that supports SMF.
Common issues
It doesn’t sound like the original (wrong instruments or tone)
MIDI files store performance events, not recorded audio, so playback depends on the synthesizer and instrument set in the player/DAW.
- In your app, select a different synth/virtual instrument or a General MIDI-compatible sound set for playback.
- If you have the intended instrument library/soundfont from the creator, load it and replay the MIDI.
File opens, but there is no sound
The app may not have a configured MIDI output/synth, or the system audio/MIDI routing is not set up.
- Check the app’s audio/MIDI settings and select an output device and a software instrument/synth.
- Try opening the file in a different MIDI-capable app to confirm the file is valid.
The app says the file is corrupted or won’t import
The download/transfer may be incomplete, or the file may not actually be a Standard MIDI File despite the .midi extension.
- Re-download or re-copy the file (avoid partial email/web downloads).
- Try importing it into another MIDI-capable program; if none can read it, ask the sender to export a Standard MIDI File again.
Tempo, timing, or tracks don’t match expectations
Different software may interpret certain metadata differently, and MIDI files can include multiple tracks and tempo changes.
- In your DAW, verify the project tempo settings and whether the import is honoring embedded tempo/time signature events.
- If needed, import into a new empty project and ensure the DAW is set to follow the file’s tempo map.
Still can’t open your .MIDI file?
Recover a deleted or lost .MIDI file
If the file was deleted by mistake or the drive was formatted, data recovery software may be able to get it back. Stop writing to that drive right away, because new data can overwrite what you want to recover.
Windows software that recovers deleted or lost files from PCs and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and memory cards, after deletion, formatting or a crash.
Wondershare RecoveritWindows and Mac software that recovers deleted or lost files from computers and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and SD cards.
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Security note
.midi files are data files (performance events), not executable programs, but a malicious or malformed file can still exploit bugs in a MIDI parser or player—use reputable, up-to-date software.