Compress or uncompress files and folders on Mac. Compress a file or folder: Control-click it or tap it using two fingers, then choose Compress from the shortcut menu. If you compress a single. Uncompress (expand) an item: Double-click the.zip file.
In this article, we look at how to compress and decompress files on a Mac and the ways you can do that with different formats.
RAR vs. ZIP files: What is the difference?
Everyone knows what a ZIP file is. Once you've made a folder, you click on File and scroll down to “Compress “[file name]” and that turns whatever folder you’re compressing into a ZIP file.
- Archive Extractor is a small and easy online tool that can extract over 70 types of compressed files, such as 7z, zipx, rar, tar, exe, dmg and much more. Audio Cutter Audio Joiner Audio Converter Video Converter Video Cutter Video Recorder Voice Recorder Archive Extractor PDF Tools.
- Follow the step-by-step instructions below to easily zip files on a mac: Right-click or Ctrl-click the multiple files you want to compress (whether on the desktop or inside the Finder). Select Compress Filename from the pop-up menu. The files are now compressed in a.zip extension and the archive is.
- The Best Free File Compression app downloads for Mac: WinZip Mac RAR Expander The Unarchiver StuffIt Expander RAR Extractor Free BetterZip RAR Extract.
Wherever you send it, whether someone is using a macOS device or Windows — or other operating system — a ZIP folder can be decompressed and opened. It is one of the most convenient ways to send large files in a single folder, usually through email or messenger platforms.
Some email systems, such as Gmail, limit the file size, so if something is too large they convert the contents into a Google Drive folder. And ZIP folders can be uploaded and shared using file-transfer systems and cloud-storage solutions.
Easy, right?
Extract Compressed Zipped Files
Yes, in most cases — unless the files have been corrupted or for some reason the receiving computer can’t decompress them — ZIPs work everywhere, on every device. ZIP files can be created and decompressed using native macOS systems that have worked this way since the file format was created.
One of the reasons ZIPs are so easy to create and unzip is they proprietary software was released into the public domain in 1989. Making ZIPs open-source, so that every operating system creator in the world could bake this into file formatting. Hence, how useful ZIPs are and why most people use them for sending and receiving large files on Mac’s.
A RAR file, on the other hand, is a little different.
RAR files are, in many ways, more secure. RAR files are a proprietary archive format (file prefixes usually look like .rar). RAR files are named after the Russian developer who created this format, and it stands for: Roshal ARchive files.
RAR files also benefit from being able to compress much larger amounts of data. It is said they can compress up to one billion gigabytes (also known as an exabyte). They compress and transmit more quickly. RAR files are more secure, can be password protected (as can ZIPs) and even encrypted, using AES-256 encryption.
How to compress and decompress RAR files on a Mac?
RAR files are more complicated to compress and decompress.
With RAR files being the result of proprietary software, you need to download software to create and decompress RAR files on your Mac. Apple’s Archive Utility does not support RAR, so you need to find another way to work with these files.
One option is The Unarchiver, a free third-party macOS app.
With this, a MacPaw app, you can open RAR on Mac. It’s times more powerful than the native macOS utility and supports infinitely more archive formats. Download and install The Unarchiver. It’s free and there is no need for in-app purchases. Now whenever you want to send or receive a RAR file, use The Unarchiver to compress and decompress these files. It really is as easy as that! Over time, ZIP and RAR files can take up space. This can slow your Mac down. Or maybe you’ve lost a file and want to find it again. We've got a solution for those problems.
How to find your hidden archives?
Sometimes we download an archive, unpack it and then forget to delete the archive. Over time, they occupy more and more space and clutter up our hard drive. Here is a tip on how to find and delete ZIP, RAR and other files that you don't need anymore.
- Firstly, get CleanMyMac X (Download a free version here)
- Now click Large & Old files
- Next sort the results by Archives: this will show hidden and forgotten ZIP and RAR files;
- Either delete or unzip/decompress them and free up some space.
Extract Compressed Zip
As you can see, I’ve found 6.6 GB worth of archives on my Mac.
Something else CleanMyMac X can do is find hidden files with the Space Lens feature. This way, you can more easily find what you've been looking for. It’s also a convenient way to clear out files that are taking up too much space when they're not needed anymore.
Compressed File Extract For Mac Shortcut
CleanMyMac X is a useful Mac performance improvement app. It can get your Mac running as good as new again. Creating more space and improving how other apps and the operating system performs, with maintenance scripts and other handy tools.