To make sure our service is as smooth and also as secure as possible, we create a zip files if you upload multiple files. It gives you the fastest upload possible, and the recipients an equally fast way of downloading the transfer. It doesn't matter what size the files individually are, it's just a fact that when you use our app to upload more than one file at a time a .zip file will be created.

If you still need to unzip files - here is what we recommend: On Windows we recommend using WinRar, which is free. It supports all common compression formats such as ZIP and RAR. For Mac we recommend Keka - it's free and works a lot better than the built in Archive Utility on macOS.

Those features are Unzip and Email as Zip File. If you click Unzip and if the Zip file is rather large, you will see a progress dialog. Using this method, your files and folders will be unzipped quickly and placed in a folder in the same location as the Zip file. Unzipping split Zip files. Starting with WinZip for Mac 2.0 you can open and unzip.
Tasty Unzip is a lightweight OS X application that enhances the way your Mac handles. Mac handles.zip files.With Tasty Unzip. Click to unzip a file. For files once you unzip.

Opening transfers (especially those larger than 4GB) is a feature that's proven to be difficult for the built-in apps of both old Windows versions and Mac. To open ZIP files larger than 4 GB, the program opening the archive needs to support Zip64 archives, and the built in solutions in Windows and macOS don't support this yet. They also struggle with localization/filenames.

The best way is to use Filemail Desktop to download files. This is way faster than web browsers - and automatically extracts all files for you. Simply install this application and copy/paste the URL to the download page into the app.

If you still need to unzip files - here is what we recommend:

On Windows we recommend using WinRar, which is free. It supports all common compression formats such as ZIP and RAR.
For Mac we recommend Keka - it's free and works a lot better than the built in Archive Utility on macOS.

After installing one of these apps, please ensure you open your zip file with this program and not the one already installed on your device.

Sep 28, 2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions

When Phil Katz invented the Zip file format over 30 years ago, it's highly arguable if he ever imagined his invention would see such profound and widespread use. Zipping files for Mac entails you take several files and compress them into a single file, all the while reducing the overall size of the resultant single file. How convenient is that?

Knowing how to Zip or Unzip files for Mac should thus be a prerequisite for you. If you don't know how to go about doing it, have a look below for an extensive lesson.

Part 1: What Is a Zip File on Mac

Zip is simply a data archive and compression format. Rar is very similar to the Zip but they are quite different too. For one, Zip files were invented long before Rar, meaning there are more software out there capable of opening and decompressing Zip files because it is a standard file format.

Along the same vein, compatibility is also a difference. Because the Zip format is older, both Windows and Mac come pre-installed with software that is capable of opening it. The same can't be said for the Rar format because it often requires third-party software to be opened. The Zip file format is a free and open-source, making it more popular. Thus, the majority of users have software that can open Zip files primarily. And when it comes to the archive creation process, its speed is relatively faster than that of the Rar format.

Zip files are well and truly capable of saving over 80% or more of the space in your Mac's hard drive. Do you now see the marked difference between the two formats?

Part 2: How to Zip a File on Mac for Free

You might ask yourself if knowing how to create and open Zip files are really worth taking the time out to know. Well, ask yourself these questions too: Don't you want to reduce email-transmission time? And wouldn't it be great to save many emails despite your mailbox's space limit? What about the time it takes to upload or download files via the web?

Zipping a file on Mac gives you great solutions to these questions. It uses a native tool called 'Archive Utility' that does the job for you. There are several ways to the Zip file on Mac. Some are free but there are paid options too (third-party software). Only the free solutions will be given out to you today, though. You're welcome.

How to Zip a File on Mac

1. Open a Finder window, then locate the file or folder you want to zip.

2. Right-click on the said file or folder.

3. Select 'Compress' in the drop-down menu you see. The file is then Zipped while the original is left just the way it was.

How to Create Zip Files and Folder on Mac

Free Unzip For Mac

1. Open a Finder window.

2. Make a folder for the file or files you want to Zip.

3. Highlight the newly-created folder.

4. Click on 'File' in the top menu bar.

5. In the drop-down menu that appears, click on 'Compress.' A zip file will be created in the same directory as the original folder.

How to Zip Files Using Mac Terminal

You can Zip your files in Mac's Terminal in different ways, but the simplest method will be outlined here for you.

1. Open up a Finder window.

2. Open up Terminal by typing in 'Terminal' at the search bar located on the top right part of your screen.

You can also launch Terminal from your Mac's 'Applications/Utilities' folder.

3. Either way, you will see the program. Click on it to launch it.

4. If the Zipped file is not located on your desktop, move it to the desktop (it's more convenient in this way).

5. Type this command in the Terminal and leave a space: zip

6. Drag and drop the file (s) to be Zipped into the Terminal's window.

7. Press 'Enter/Return'. The files will be compressed and Zipped into a single file.

How to Zip Files with Password on Mac

1. Choose the file you want to Zip and right-click on it (to make it easier, make sure the file is on your desktop).

2. Select 'Compress.'

3. Open up a Finder window.

4. Navigate to your Mac's 'Utilities.'

5. Find and click on 'Terminal' to launch it.

6. Type in these commands in the Terminal: zip -er archive_name target_folder

7. A popup window will appear, prompting you to enter a password (you will have to enter the password twice; the second time will be for verification). Type in the secure password and click on 'OK' or press 'Enter/Return.' Your Zipped files are now password-protected.

Part 3: How to Unzip and Open Files on Mac for Free

Knowing how to zip files on Mac is good and fine but sometimes, the files you want are already Zipped. This is especially true if you downloaded the files from the web.

The internet of yesterday is not the same as the internet of today. More and more of the files uploaded to websites come in Zipped formats to make downloads faster and easier. So, what happens when youdownload these files but don't know your way around opening them? Bummer. That is just one reason why knowing how to open zip files on your Mac is now a necessity. But just like Zipping files, Unzipping them is quite easy too. There are, of course, different ways you can do that. Here are a few:

How to Unzip files on Mac

Method 1 (Archive Utility):

1. Navigate to wherever the Zipped file is (your desktop, downloads, etc.)

2. Double-click on the file. Because 'Archive Utility' is integrated into your macOS, the Zipped file will automatically open up and dump the contents into a folder bearing its name; the folder will be in the same directory as the Zipped file too.

Method 2 (Archive Utility):

1. Move your cursor over to the Zipped file or files and select them.

2. Right-click on them.

3. Select 'Open.' The Zipped archive will be extracted into a folder that's in the same directory as the archive.

Method 3 (Terminal):

1. Open up a Finder window.

2. Launch Terminal by typing in 'Terminal' at the search bar on the top-right section of your Mac's screen. Click on it to launch it.

Unzip File For Mac Os