How To Unzip Files On Mac

Unzipping files on a Mac is simple and quick, enabling you to access compressed folders or files easily. Whether you downloaded a ZIP file from the internet or received one via email, this guide will help you extract its contents effectively using built-in tools or other options.

How to Unzip Files on Mac: Step-by-Step

1. Locate the ZIP file in Finder

Open the Finder app on your Mac and navigate to the folder containing the ZIP file you want to unzip.

2. Double-click the ZIP file

Simply double-click the ZIP archive. This action uses the macOS built-in Archive Utility to automatically extract the contents into the same folder. A new folder with the same name as the ZIP file (without the .zip extension) will appear containing the uncompressed files.

3. Unzip multiple files at once

To extract several ZIP files simultaneously, hold down the Command key and click each file to select them, then double-click any one of the selected files. All will be unzipped together into their corresponding folders.

4. Right-click and open the ZIP file

Alternatively, you can Control-click or right-click the ZIP file, then select Open from the context menu. This will also trigger Archive Utility to unzip the contents in the same location.

5. Use Quick Look to unzip (macOS Monterey and later)

Right-click the ZIP file and choose Quick Look. In the Quick Look window, click the “Uncompress” button at the top right to unzip the file without fully opening it.

6. Unzipping other archive types like RAR

macOS does not natively support RAR files. For these, download a third-party app such as The Unarchiver or Commander One from the App Store. These apps open multiple compressed file formats, including ZIP and RAR.

7. Unzip tar.gz or other compressed formats using Terminal

For files ending with .tar.gz or .tar, open Terminal and use the following command:

tar -zxvf filename.tar.gz

Replace filename.tar.gz with your file’s actual name. This will extract the archive in the current directory.

Tips for Managing Unzipped Files on Mac

• After unzipping, you can drag and drop extracted files or folders to wherever you want to organize them.
• The original ZIP file remains intact; unzipping does not delete or alter it.
• If you encounter issues unzipping, ensure your file is not corrupted or try a third-party extraction tool.
• Always be cautious when opening ZIP files from unknown sources to avoid malware risk.

Using these straightforward methods, you can easily handle ZIP and other compressed files on your Mac to keep your files organized and accessible.