How to unzip a file on Mac – the easiest way

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Updated on: October 17, 2023
Time to read: 10 minutes
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When it comes to how to unzip files on Mac, there are several ways to get the job done. In this article, we have gathered the most common ways for unzipping files on Mac, as well as reviewed some of the unzip software that can help you manage archives.

Table of Contents

What is a ZIP File?

ZIP file is a common compression format used by various archivers. Phil Katz, the founder of PKWARE, created the ZIP file extension in 1989 specifically for use with PKZIP software.

A ZIP file can upload files of any format and size.

Such an archive may contain data with varying degrees of compression. The advantage of file compression technology is that there is no loss of information. The archive contains both one and several files or directories; the most commonly used compression algorithm is Deflate.

The technology is generally recognized and is included among the most popular archiving methods. It is available for an impressive number of applications that perform backup, compression, and data exchange functions. Even considering more innovative technologies, the described archive format is still relevant at the present time.

To view and use the files stored in the archive, you need to open ZIP files on Mac, that is, extract the files to a regular folder. The unpacking process on macOS devices is quite straightforward; there is a built-in tool as well as third-party archive utility Mac apps users can rely on.

How to extract files on Mac with Archive Utility

If you receive an archive, you might be wondering how to unzip files on Mac to see what it is and extract the internal components of the archive. No more questions, it turns out that opening a ZIP file on Mac is very easy thanks to the built-in tool – called Archive Utility. Let’s take a look at how to unzip files on Mac for free using the Archive Utility:

You can customize archiving just the way you need it
Note:  The Archive Utility is integrated into the Mac by default. So, you do not need to search for it and open it in advance.

1. Navigate to the folder where your ZIP file is located and double-click it.

2. Files from the archive will be extracted and usually placed in a folder with the same name as the ZIP archive but without the .zip file extension.

Tip:  Alternatively, you can right-click the .zip archive and choose “Open” from the context menu. If you’ve installed third-party unzip software, you can select “Open With” and select a different archiving tool.

How to use Terminal to Unzip Files on Mac

If you are a regular command line user, you may find it convenient to open zipped files. Follow this guide to learn how to unzip files on Mac Terminal:

The Terminal can be found in the Launchpad or by Quick Search

1. Launch the Terminal application. You can find it by searching for it in Spotlight or going to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal.

2. Use the cd command to navigate to the folder where your ZIP file is located. For example, if it is in your Downloads folder, you would type:

cd ~/Downloads and press Enter.

3. To unzip a file, simply use the following command:

unzip filename.zip.

Replace “filename.zip” with the name of your zipped file. For instance, if your file is named “holidays.zip,” the command would be:

unzip holidays.zip.

4. After entering the command, press the Enter key, and the Terminal will initiate the unzipping process, extracting the contents of your .zip file into the current directory.

Unzipping Files on Mac: Third-Party Apps

Below, we list the best archiving software for Mac that you can use to compress or decompress files.

Top Features Commander One  WinZip BetterZip StuffIt Expander Archiver
File Preview
Customizable Hotkeys
File Protection
Drag and Drop
Integration with Cloud Services
Multi-Platform
Price $29.99   $29.95   $24.95  free   $19.99 

Commander One

Being a powerful file manager and ZIP extractor for Mac, Commander One allows you to not only open .zip on Mac but also pack files and folders into different archives and even go through the content of the archive without extracting it. With the help of this unzip software, you do not need to open Terminal if you wish to protect your archive with a password, as this feature is already implemented.

Besides that, the app can boast other handy features, such as support for online connections, a built-in Terminal, work with MTP and iOS devices, and many more.

Free dual panel file manager for Mac.

Key Features:

  • Comes with a dual-panel interface
  • Convenient toggle option to display hidden files
  • The ability to set up hotkeys for any action
  • Work with .zip, .rar, .tbz, .tgz, .7z files.

Pros

  • Built-in search function
  • Supports many archive formats
  • Work with both local and remote drives
  • Support for zip and unzip.

Cons

  • To enjoy advanced features, you need to upgrade to the PRO version.
The Best Finder Alternative and File Manager for Mac

WinZip

Most likely, you have come across WinZip, when googling “How to Unzip Files on Mac”. It is an all-in-one utility for creating archives and managing compressed files, with support for over 17 common formats. WinZip provides the ability to archive files by drag and drop and allows users to share files directly with cloud services such as Dropbox and Google Drive right from the application.

WinZip is a trialware file archiver and compressor for Windows and macOS.

Key Features:

  • Integration with cloud services
  • Easy and fast unzipping of any compressed files
  • Allows extracting selective files and modifying existing archives
  • Protects compressed files with AES encryption.

Pros

  • Support for common archive formats
  • Works with Windows, macOS, iOS, Android devices
  • Compression and decompression feature
  • Easy transfer of files between different platforms.

Cons

  • Limited set of features in a free version.

BetterZip

BetterZip is another unzip software on our list. Archiving and managing files are also included in the app’s functionality. The app handles the following formats: ZIP, TAR, TGZ, TBZ, TZ, etc. With this tool, you can easily unpack only selected files, as well as open a zipped folder without even extracting it.

The application is constantly updated and bugs are fixed

Key Features:

  • Ability to preview files stored in archives without extracting them
  • Provides AES-256 password encryption feature to avoid unauthorized access
  • Has a built-in password generator that suggests strong passwords
  • Can be integrated into workflow. You can script BetterZip using AppleScript.

Pros

  • A wide range of formats supported
  • Comes with a fully-fledged interface
  • Allows creating presets
  • Support for zip and unzip feature
  • Integrates well with the Finder interface.

Cons

  • Pricy app.

StuffIt Expander

If you are looking for a solution that helps you unzip files on Mac for free, consider StuffIt Expander. The tool is fully compatible with various formats, including ZIP, RAR, TAR, and GZIP, so that you can open almost any compressed file without problems.

Installing the application is very simple, it can be done in two clicks.

Key Features:

  • Comes with drag-and-drop functionality
  • Additional features for automatic email attachment compression
  • Allows editing ZIP archives without expanding
  • Supports comments so that you can mark information about the contents of the archive.

Pros

  • Is lightweight and does not require much space for installation
  • Compatible with many formats
  • Works on all popular operating systems, including macOS, Windows.

Cons

  • Limited functionality
  • Can extract archives only.

Archiver

The Archiver app allows you to compress files and extract archives on a Mac. Among the supported formats are RAR, StuffIt, ZIP, 7-ZIP, and more. With its help, you can preview archives as well as extract only those files you need by simply dragging and dropping them. You don’t have to worry about your files, as Archiver can pack all your sensitive files in an encrypted archive.

The app does not have a free version.

Key Features:

  • Splitting files in just a few clicks
  • Password protection
  • Drag and drop functionality
  • Allows unzipping selective files
  • Customizable interface.

Pros

  • Supports more than 30 formats
  • Fast extraction and archiving
  • When creating an archive, you can choose the name, compression level and protect it.

Cons

  • Is not free.

Advantages of Using Third-Party Unzip Software

It is undoubtedly more convenient to have a built-in tool that allows you to perform compression or decompression tasks. Unfortunately, the built-in Archive Utility is not ideal. It has some disadvantages that are very inconvenient when it comes to productivity. First of all, when it comes to working with different file extensions rather than ZIP, it is not fully compatible.

With one click, you can select any third-party program and open the file.

As you can see, the native zipping program for Mac only unpacks files that have the .zip extension. This is a serious flaw that forces users to search for third-party tools that are open to other extensions.

Definitely, ZIP files are the most common ones you find on a daily basis, but in some situations, you may have to work with other archive types, and this is where you have an essential issue that you run into not only how to unzip files on Mac but also how to deal with other archive formats. And that’s where a reliable unzip solution comes in handy.

Conclusion

Zipped files can be unpacked using the macOS built-in Archive Utility, but it only supports multiple formats and offers quite a few features. Therefore, many begin to look for more powerful applications.

We’ve covered the most common tools, and now that you know how to unzip files on Mac, you shouldn’t have any problems with unpacking. All of the above applications will help you easily open the desired file.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are lots of free unzipping programs for macOS; however, the most popular choice among Mac users is Commander One. It is a powerful file manager with a wide set of features and a great list of supported archive types.

  • In order to unzip files online, you can rely on an online solution like ezyZip.
  • In your browser, go to the official ezyZip website.
  • Click the “Unzip Files” button on the main page.
  • Click the “Choose File” button and navigate to the ZIP file.
  • Once selected, click the “Unzip File” button.

There are several main reasons that can cause trouble when unzipping files:

  • Corrupted files
  • Incomplete files
  • Password protected files