How to Open Zip File on Mac [Ventura/Monterey/Big Sur]

Do you want to know how to open zip files on Mac? Before proceeding, it is vital to understand what zip files are. Zip files, or compressed files, take up less storage space. It can also be transferred from one system to another quickly.

Zip files compress information, enabling users to combine smaller files. Besides, moving zip files from one folder to another or another system is easy. To make them more secure, you can encrypt the zip files and open zip files on Mac. You can use passwords to protect these files.

Workable Solutions	Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Fix 1. Double-Click to Open	The simplest method to open zip files on Mac is to double-click them...Full steps
Fix 2. Open with Archive Utility	Another solution to open zip files on Mac is via the Archive Utility...Full steps
Fix 3. Use Decompression Utility	There are several Decompression Utility Software solutions available...Full steps
Fix 4. Use Terminal	It might seem messy or complicated, but this does the job may...Full steps

Possibility: Can Mac Open Zip Files?

ZIP is a compression standard widely used for file compression and archiving. macOS supports the file format by supporting the file format at the API level, which allows the OS to interact with the ZIP files. If you are wondering how to open zip files on Mac, then using the built-in tools and third-party tools is possible.

Zip on Mac

Here is the list of reasons why Mac can open Zip Files:

📱Native App Support

Mac can open Zip files using its built-in Archive Utility tool. It can extract files from ZIP archives and other archive formats, including tar, gzip, and bzip2.

🧑‍💻Third-party support

Other apps also follow the same APIs to open the archive file but add more features than the native utility.

📂File System Support

Even if you do not want to extract the files, you can navigate through the ZIP file as you do for any folder. The file explorer also allows you to drag and drop files from the archive folder.

[Fixed] How to Fix Unable to Expand Zip on Mac Error 1

Zip files, when not downloaded or transferred correctly, may cause opening errors. Thus, Mac users search for the best solutions for this issue.

How to Open Zip File on Mac [4 Ways]

Do you want to know how to open a zip file on Mac? There are several methods you can adopt to open zip files on Mac. However, users also need to safeguard their data. After ensuring your data is safe, you can check out the methods below.

4 Methods	When to Use:
🖱️Double-Click to Open Zip Files on Mac	This method is the easiest and most convenient way to open a zip file on a Mac. You can use this method if they have a single zip file to open and do not want to install any additional software.
🗂️Open Zip Files on Mac with Archive Utility	Archive Utility is a built-in Mac application that can open and extract files from zip archives. Mac users with multiple zip files to open can use this method to extract the contents of all the files simultaneously.
🌐Use Decompression Utility Software	Suppose Archive Utility is not working properly or the zip file is corrupted. In that case, you can try using a third-party decompression utility software such as WinZip or 7-Zip to open the file. This method is useful when the built-in tools are not sufficient.
🎚️Use Terminal to View the Zip Files	The Terminal is a powerful command-line tool that can be used to perform various operations on a Mac. Users who are comfortable with using the command line can use this method to view the contents of a zip file without extracting it. This method is useful when users want to quickly view the files in a zip file without extracting them.

Users should choose the method to open zip files on a Mac based on the number of files they need to open, the condition of the zip file, and their comfort level with using the command line.

Method 1. Double-Click to Open Zip Files on Mac

The simplest method to open zip files on Mac is to double-click them. Here are the steps to follow –

Step 1. Go to the zipped file.

Step 2. Double-click it.

Step 3. It will trigger the Archive Utility tool to unzip the files.

Extract Zip Files

Step 4. The unzipped file will be in the same folder as the zipped file.

Method 2. Open Zip Files on Mac with Archive Utility

Another solution to open zip files on Mac is via the Archive Utility. Take a look at these steps –

Step 1. Right-click on the zip file.

Step 2. Select "Open" if you have Archive Utility as default.

Step 3. If not, click the "Open With" option.

Step 4. Select "Archive Utility".

Open with Archive Utility

Step 5. Tap on the icons to get the extracted files.

Method 3. Use Decompression Utility Software

There are several Decompression Utility Software solutions available. Look at the features and choose the one that best fits your needs. Some of the best zip file openers are WinZip for Mac, BetterZip, etc.

Method 4. Use Terminal to View the Zip Files

Did you know you can use Terminal to view zip files? Yes! That's right.

Check out these steps –

Step 1. Open Terminal. For that, click on the "Utilities" folder and find the Terminal app.

Zipinfo Terminal Extract File

Step 2. Type zipinfo ~/Downloads/Archive.zip. The command zipinfo must be followed by the location of the archive.

Step 3. Take a look at the output.

Extract File using Zipinfo

It might seem messy or complicated, but this does the job. However, you can opt for a third-party app if you want a better look.

How to Recover Zip Files on Mac?

Zip files are not as secure as you might think. If you don't take extra precautions, data loss can occur. In that case, opting for a reliable data recovery tool is a great idea. Making sure your data is safe is of utmost importance.

Download for Mac
Trustpilot Rating 4.7

The Deep Data Recovery is a powerful data recovery program. The tool was designed to help users recover lost data due to various situations. These include macOS updates can't be installed, system crashes, virus attacks, etc. The user-friendly interface makes it an excellent tool for beginners and experts.

Highlights:

Recover deleted ZIP and RAR files on Mac and other types of files, such as music files, videos, emails, documents, etc.
Data retrieval from Mac-based devices like SSD, HDD, memory card, camera, etc.
Preview recoverable files to ensure these are the files you want to recover.
Team of remote IT support experts to offer assistance whenever required.

Download the data recovery software to recover lost files and documents:

Note: You can create a backup by clicking the "Disk Backup" on the left first. The software will recover the document from the backup image. It can prevent further damage to your disk and data, making it safer and more reliable.

Step 1. Scan for lost documents

Select the location where your important Word/Excel/PPT/Numbers/Pages documents were lost and click "Search for lost files".

select a location and scan for lost documents on Mac

Step 2. Find lost documents on Mac

Deep Data Recovery for Mac will immediately start a scan on your selected disk volume. Meanwhile, the scanning results will be presented in the left pane. Select "Documents" and you can quickly filter the DOC/PDF/PPT/XLS files you've lost earlier.

Step 3. Recover lost/deleted documents

Select the target files and preview them by double-clicking them. Then, click "Recover" to get lost documents back at once.

Final Words

Knowing how to open zip files on Mac is critical. Zip files are compressed files that take less space. Moreover, it can easily be transferred from one system to another. On Mac, you can apply four different methods to open zip files. The methods are easy and take only a few seconds.

However, data loss can still occur, even if the files are zip files. For that, using a professional data recovery tool is an excellent idea. The Deep Data Recovery for Mac is a user-friendly yet reliable software that can recover different data types.

Download it today if you haven't used Deep Data Recovery for Mac yet!

Download for Mac
Trustpilot Rating 4.7

How to Open Zip Files on Mac FAQs

To know more about zip files on Mac, read the questions and answers listed below -

1. Why can't I unzip a file on my Mac?

You cannot unzip a file on your Mac because it hasn't downloaded properly. You will need to download it again if it is stuck in between. Make sure you have a steady internet connection.

2. How to open zip files on Mac without WinZip?

To open zip files on Mac without WinZip, right-click on the zip file. If Archive Utility is enabled, choose the Open option. If not, choose the Open With option and now select Archive Utility.

3. Do zip files work on a Mac?

Yes, zip files work on Mac. An in-built compression feature allows users to zip files and unzip them later.

4. How do I open a zip file on my Mac without extracting it?

To open a zip file on Mac without extracting it, go to Terminal and type zipinfo ~/Downloads/Archive.zip. The zipinfo needs to be followed by the location of the archive.). so it knows where to extract the files.