Extract Multiple Zip Files Mac

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The easiest way to unzip a file is to use the built-in uncompress feature that comes stock standard with macOS. With Finder, locate the zip file which you wish to decompress/unzip.

Jul 08, 2021

3min Read

If you have multiple zip files in a directory and you want to extract all of them at once into that directory, then simply do Open Spotlight and enter “Terminal” then enter the following # go to the containing folder. Most files that you download from the Internet usually come in an archived format and have one of the formats used for archived and compressed files. Opening these ZIP, RAR, TAR, BIN, and EXE files on a Mac may seem impossible in the first try as your machine is just not compatible with these formats by default. Zip -r -s 64 archive.zip FolderName/ 64 is the size of the split (in this case 64Mb). Use -s to set the split size and create a split archive. The size is given as a number followed optionally by one of k (kB), m (MB), g (GB), or t (TB) (the default is m). 1 Use zipsplit to split a zip file in to multiple smaller zipfiles. Follow these steps to open zip files on Mac: Click the Unzip button. From the drop down menu, choose to unzip your files to this Mac, iCloud Drive, Dropbox or Google Drive. A 'Finder style' window will open. You can browse to the folder where you want the files saved. Choose to unzip the Entire Zip file.

Sometimes when you want to download a file, you might notice that it comes in a .zip format. If you don’t know what it is and are having trouble opening it, you’ve come to the right place! This article is going to teach you how to unzip files using default applications in Windows and macOS as well as third-party programs.

Two Ways to Unzip Files

There are two ways to extract zipped files:

  1. By using your operating system’s built-in software.
  2. By using third-party tools.

Let’s look at each one of these options in more detail.

1. Using an OS Built-In Tool

First, let’s take a look at how to extract files using native software found in Windows and macOS. Because you’re only using what your computer already has, there is no need to download another tool.

Windows

While it is possible to see the content of a zip file by double-clicking on it on Windows, you still need to extract the files to use it. The Windows default support for .zip goes by the name of Compressed (zipped) folders and here’s how to use it:

  1. Right-click the file that you want to decompress and choose Extract All.
  2. Choose the directory where you want to keep the extracted files and click Extract. It is optional to check the box underneath if you need to see the content immediately after the extraction is done.
  3. The files that were inside the .zip now can be found in the location you picked in step two.

macOS

Archive Utility is Mac’s built-in tool that handles the .zip format. To unzip a file, follow these steps:

  1. Double-click on the file you want to unzip.
  2. Once extracted, the file will appear in the same folder as its archive.

Zip For Mac

If you want to change the default folder location, access Internal Hard Drive -> System -> Library -> Core Services -> Archive Utility. Once there, select Preferences and set the location by clicking Save Expanded Files.

If you’re using Linux, read here for an in-depth guide on how to unzip your file.

2. Using a Third-Party Tool

While it is not necessary to download third-party tools to extract a .zip file, they do come with added features that allow you to customize, password-protect, and repair your zip files.

Below are our recommendations.

7-Zip

This file archiver is a free and open-source program with a 2-10% higher compression rate compared to WinZip and PKZip. It also has its own 7z extension that compresses data 30-70% better than the .zip format.

Although it is only available for Windows, it also has a port for Linux/Posix command line called p7zip.

To unzip with this tool, follow these steps:

  1. Right-click on the file that you plan to extract. 7-Zip should be listed there after installation.
  2. Hover your mouse above the program name, and you will see a drop-down menu with multiple commands. Click Extract Files.
  3. In the next menu, choose the save location by clicking on the three dots, leave it be if you want it in the same folder as the original. Click OK.
  4. Alternatively, you can also choose Extract Here to immediately save your file in the archive’s location or Extract to [File Name] to make a folder out of the extracted data.

Zipware

Just like 7-Zip, Zipware is also a Windows-only extractor. However, it has a few features that stand out, such as a streamlined file manager, a password manager, conversion of all compatible formats to .zip, .exe, or .7z and a virus scan.

Again, decompressing using this tool follows the same method as the previous ones with slightly different options:

  • Extract to this folder – for immediate extraction to the location of the zip.
  • Extract to this folder + Filenames – for a similar effect but with a folder made out of the file.
  • Extract to other… – opens a drop-down menu to choose another location.

Regardless of what tool you use, it is a good practice to delete the .zip file after you extract its content because keeping both consumes more space.

What is a .zip File?

A .zip file is an archive containing one or more files that have been compressed to reduce its size. Zipping a file is useful to spare up to 80% or more storage space.

Additionally, zipping big files enables users to upload and send them faster over the internet, simultaneously decreasing the chance of it being corrupted. Users can also use .zip format to encrypt their data for extra security.

There is plenty of software that can be used to unzip files. However, your computer is generally already equipped with a built-in program that can perform the task just fine.

Conclusion

A zip file is an archiving method that is useful to save storage since it compresses file sizes.

You can unzip files either using default Windows and macOS settings or by utilizing third-party software such as Zipware, and 7-Zip.

The process itself takes only a few clicks, so you can have the task done in no time.

Edvinas is a professional mentor and trainer of customer support agents. When he's not teaching new guys the secrets of providing an exceptional service, he likes to travel the world and play basketball.

The ZIP file format explained

ZIP files are one of the most popular ways to save disk space and send large files and folders to other computers. The process for creating a ZIP file or folder is different depending on what device you’re using. We’ll explain how to zip files for Mac and Windows users. We will also offer methods for file storage and sharing that are more efficient and reliable.

How Do I Extract Multiple Zip Files At Once

A ZIP file is one or more compressed files together in one location. When a file or folder is zipped, its contents are compressed. With redundant data removed, they need a lot less data to store and share. The process is called “lossless data compression”. Lossless meaning that while the file size is reduced, the file itself isn't affected. ZIP is a type of file archive. There are other formats, like RAR and 7-ZIP, but ZIP is the most common.

Why should I zip files?

ZIP files can be useful if you’ve got a large group of files or even one massive file that you need to share. A lot of email clients won’t allow you to send huge files. So file compression is often seen as one of the best solutions for sending bigger data. You can also use ZIP files to encrypt private data before sending it online.

How to zip a folder or file on Mac

If you’re compressing many files together on a macOS, you’ll need to make sure they’re contained in the same folder. Create a new folder with only the files you wish to compress. You can then right-click or Ctrl-click that folder and select “Compress Items.” The .zip file will save in the same location of the original folder.

You may only want to compress certain files in a folder but not the entire folder. To do this, hold down the Command key and then click on whichever files you want zipped. When they’re all selected, right-click and select 'Compress [#] items.” All items will compress into a single ZIP file, called “archive.zip.” You can change the name by right-clicking the file and selecting Rename. It’s the same process if you only want to compress one file—right-click on it and select “Compress [filename].”

How to make a zip file on Windows 10

'Send To' is a similar process for Microsoft users. First, make sure all the files you’re compressing are in one folder. Next, right-click that folder, and then scroll to the “Send To” option. In the 'Send To” menu, you should see the “Compressed Folder” option. Click that, and your compressed file will save to your desktop.

Another way to zip files on Windows is to select the files you want compressed and, in the “Share” tab of File Explorer, locate and click the “Zip” button. You can do this on any Windows computer operating Windows 8.1 or higher. With older computers you’ll need to use the right-click and 'Send To' method.

How to unzip a ZIP file

To uncompress a zip file on Mac, double-click on it. You can also right-click on it, hover over “Open With,” and select “Archive Utility.” The file will unzip and a new folder will be created with the files, in the same location of your stored ZIP file.

On Windows, you can view the contents of a ZIP folder without unzipping it. But can’t edit them unless you extract the files. To do so, right-click on the ZIP folder and select “Extract All.” The files are then extracted and stored in the same location as the ZIP file. You can set a different location by pressing “Browse” in the Extract All wizard. You can also do the same for individual files within a zipped folder if you don’t want to extract everything at once. Right-click the file, select 'Cut,” and then paste it wherever you want it saved.

Add files to an existing ZIP folder

You might already have a zipped folder that you need to add more files to. On Windows this isn’t too complicated. Drag the new files or folders on to the ZIP file, like you would if you were adding a file to a regular folder. These files are now added to your ZIP file.

Mac Extract Multiple Zip Files To Same Folder

Zip

But for Mac this isn’t possible without the use of a third-party service. There are always security risks whenever you use a third-party service. There are some third-party archivers like WinZip that are pretty well trusted, but they're not without some risk. This is especially true if you’re zipping private files. With that in mind, the safest way to add new files to a zip folder on Mac would be to create a new zip file from scratch.

How to create a zip file that’s password protected

It is possible to password protect ZIP files to some extent with Windows 10. To do so, right-click on the ZIP file and select “Properties.” From the “General” tab, click “Advanced.” Select “Encrypt contents to secure data,” click OK in the Advanced window, and then click OK in the Properties window to save your changes. You’ll notice that the file icon now shows a padlock. You’ll still be able to open the file if you’re logged into your account, but other accounts will not be able to access it.

Extract Multiple Zip Files Mac Pro

For Mac users, your options are more limited. There’s no way to directly password protect a ZIP file on Mac. You’ve got to do a bit of legwork using Terminal. This is quite a complicated and, considering the other options available, unnecessary process. Again, there are plenty of third-party apps that you can use to protect ZIP files on both Windows and Mac. But granting third-party software access to your unprotected files can lead to security issues.

Disadvantages of ZIP files

For the most part, ZIP files are an efficient solution for reducing file size. But they aren't effective for every type of file. For instance, MP4 and JPEG files are already highly compressed and zipping them won’t actually compress them much further. So, while ZIP files should reduce file size, for certain files this reduction won’t be anything substantial. You can only compress a file so much without damaging it. There is also the risk that the compression process can damage or corrupt your files. Furthermore, compressing or sending a compressed file involves a few extra steps. There are alternatives to ZIP files that can get the job done far more efficiently.

Free Unzip Program For Mac

Alternatives to ZIP files

With the limitations described above, you might find that compressing files isn’t the best solution for you. ZIP files can be a good way to save space on your device, but makes access difficult. To use a file in a ZIP archive, you would need to find the ZIP it was in and unzip it before opening it. This could easily become time-consuming and cluttered. You’d be better off seeking an option that lets you keep your files at their original size without taking up space on your computer. And that’s when cloud storage comes in. When you use Dropbox Smart Sync, you’re saving your files to an online server. They don’t take up any space on your computer and you can access them from anywhere via the internet.

With Dropbox, you can upload files of any size, in any file format, and share them with a few clicks. You’re not risking file corruption during compression. You can upload effortlessly and send large files in an instant, and you save a few steps in the process. Even if you still need to use ZIP files–you can save and send them from Dropbox. You can even preview a zipped file through Dropbox itself.

With the Dropbox desktop app, moving your files to Dropbox is as simple as dragging them into the Dropbox folder. Drag and drop files straight into Google Chrome, Safari, or whatever browser you’re using to view the web app. Then, sharing your files and folders is as simple as clicking 'Share' and choosing who to send them to. Your shared files and folders are as secure as any ZIP file. Dropbox can even go a step further with password protection. Now only those who you grant access to and have the password can open them.

How To Extract Multiple Zip Files

You and your team can share and edit files and folders through Dropbox itself. You no longer have to create and send new ZIP files every time your files are updated. Everything on Dropbox updates as you and your team edit. Collaboration is a whole lot more efficient without multiple versions on different hard drives.