How to Unzip Files on Mac (and Zip Them Too)

Zip files are how most downloads, shared folders and email attachments arrive, and a Mac handles them without any extra software. Double-click to open, Control-click to create. The only time you need more is for unusual formats or password-protected archives. Here's the whole picture, including what to do when a zip file refuses to open.

Unzip a file step by step

1. Find the .zip file, usually in your Downloads folder (Option-Command-L opens it).
2. Double-click it.
3. macOS creates the unzipped file or folder in the same location, with the same name.
4. Open the new folder to get at the contents. You can delete the .zip file afterwards if you don't need it.

There's no Extract All step and no extra window. If nothing seems to happen, look next to the zip file: the unzipped folder will be sitting right beside it.

Zip a file or folder

1. In Finder, select the file or folder. Hold Command to select several.
2. Control-click (or right-click) the selection.
3. Choose Compress.

You compress	You get
One file or folder	The same name with .zip on the end
Several items at once	A file called Archive.zip

Rename Archive.zip straight away to something the person receiving it will recognise; nobody wants a folder of files all called Archive.

When to zip files

Apple's reasons are the practical ones: zipped files take up less space, which helps for backups, and a single zip is much easier to send than twenty separate files. Bear in mind that photos and videos are already compressed, so zipping them groups them neatly but barely shrinks them. Documents, spreadsheets and folders of text files shrink much more. For big sends, my guide to sending large files in Gmail covers the size limits you'll hit.

When a zip file won't open

• Not enough space: Apple's first check. The unzipped files need room on your disk, sometimes much more than the zip itself.
• Damaged download: delete it and download it again. A download cut off partway gives an error when you try to expand it.
• Bad file from someone else: Apple suggests asking them to zip it again and resend it.
• It keeps making another zip: some files unzip into a .cpgz file in a loop. That usually means the download is incomplete; download it again.

Other archive formats: RAR and 7z

The built-in Archive Utility handles .zip and a few related formats, but not every type. If you're sent a .rar or .7z file and double-clicking doesn't work, you need a separate unarchiver app from the Mac App Store. Pick a well-known one and be careful with downloads from unknown sites. On Windows, people often use 7-Zip or WinRAR for these; my reviews of whether 7-Zip is safe and whether WinRAR is safe explain what to watch for, and the same caution applies to Mac tools.

Password-protected zip files

If a zip file is encrypted, double-clicking asks for the password. Get it from the person who sent the file through a different channel from the file itself, such as a text message, so the two aren't intercepted together. Finder can't create a password-protected zip by itself; that needs Terminal or a separate app.

Stop Safari unzipping downloads

Safari can open safe files automatically after download, which includes expanding zip files. That's why you sometimes find both the zip and an unzipped folder in Downloads without having done anything. If you'd rather choose for yourself, open Safari settings, General, and switch off the option to open safe files after downloading.

Zipping from Terminal

Apple's own advice is that it's easier to do this in Finder. Terminal is there if you need a different archive type, such as a .tgz file, which some websites and developers ask for. For everyday sharing, Finder's Compress is all you need.

Unzip on iPhone or iPad too

If you open a zip attachment on your phone, the Files app can expand it: tap the zip file and the contents appear in a folder next to it, just like on a Mac. To make a zip on an iPhone, touch and hold a file or folder in Files and choose Compress. It's handy when someone sends you a zip and you're away from your computer.

Should you trust a zip file?

Zip files are a common way to pass on malware, because the real file is hidden inside. Only open zips you were expecting, from people or sites you trust. If a zip contains an app or an installer you didn't ask for, delete it. And if an email insists you open an attached zip urgently, treat that as a warning sign rather than a reason to hurry.

A tidy Downloads folder

Because the unzipped folder lands next to the zip, Downloads fills up with pairs of files. Once you've moved what you need, delete the zips. It's one of the quickest ways to win back disk space on a Mac that's running low.

My verdict

Double-click to unzip and Control-click, Compress to zip: that covers almost everything. If a zip won't open, check your free space and download it again before you reach for a new app, and only install an unarchiver when someone sends you a RAR or 7z file.

Frequently asked questions

How do I unzip a file on a Mac?

Double-click the .zip file. The contents appear in the same folder.

How do I zip a file on a Mac?

Control-click the file or folder and choose Compress.

Why won't my zip file open on my Mac?

Check you have enough free space, then download it again in case it's damaged.

Can a Mac open RAR files?

Not by default. You need a separate unarchiver app.

Where do unzipped files go on a Mac?

Into the same folder as the zip file, usually Downloads.