Dec 16, 2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions
To unzip files on a mac, simply follow the steps below: Double click the zipped file. The file will automatically be decompressed by Archive Utility into the same folder the compressed file is in. Access the extracted files by clicking the appropriate icons. Download the best file encryption solution out there. Password protecting zip files is now easier than ever! We promise you will love how easy it is to add a password to your files in WinZip. Click below to download your free 30-day trial and password protect your files for free before you buy! How to Unzip Files and Folders on Mac. Unzipping an archive is even easier. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Zip file that you downloaded on the internet or something that you compressed yourself. Navigate to the archive in the Finder app and double-click the Zip file. After several seconds, the file or the folder will decompress in the same folder. If it was a single file, you’ll see that the file will return to its original state, with the name intact.
How To Password Protect A Zip Folder
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
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.
3. Type this command in the Terminal: unzip {the name of the Zipped file}.zip
4. If the Zipped file is not located on your desktop, move it to the desktop because it makes things easier and faster for you. This is not necessary but it is advised, or else you have to type in the directory of the Zipped file before typing in its name. Like so:
unzip ~/Downloads/example.zip
5. Press on 'Enter/Return'. The contents of the Zipped file or files will be Unzipped to the same directory as the Zipped file.
Method 4 (Terminal)
You can Unzip multiple files all at once into a single directory using Terminal.
1. Open up 'Spotlight.'
2. Type in 'Terminal' and then launch it.
3. Type the following commands in Terminal:
cd /Users/phil/Downloads/folder_with_zips
(The above command is to navigate to where your multiple Zipped files are. Input the right directory as proper. In the above example, the Zipped files are in 'Downloads').
unzip *.zip
(This is the command that will Unzip the multiple files)
4. Press 'Enter/Return.' All the files will be Unzipped simultaneously.
Part 4: How to Recover Deleted Zip Files on Mac
Try as you may, it's almost impossible for you to use your Mac without Zipping your files for one reason or another. Even if you don't download much from the internet, it can be quite tempting to want to Zip your files simply because you're well aware it will save your hard drive much-needed space.
Likewise, it will be nearly impossible for you to not delete your Zipped files; again, for several reasons. Maybe you didn't do it intentionally, or maybe you did, but then you realize you want the Zipped files back for one or various reasons.
Look no further than Recoverit Mac Data Recovery to be your one and only savior. It comes loaded with features that thoroughly scan your drive for deleted Zipped files and recovers them back to their exact state. And this is all achieved with a few simple steps:
Step 1: Choose a Location
- Open up Recoverit and choose the hard disk to be scanned. The disk should be where the deleted Zipped files had once been in. Click the 'Start' button.
Step 2: Scan the Location
- The scan will begin. After it's done, a window will display a preview of the deleted Zipped files. You can select and deselect filters during the scan to make your search quicker.
For instance, you can use 'File Type' or 'File Path' to alter your search and make judicious use of time. You can pause or stop the scan before it completes too; that's a feature that easily makes the operation even more convenient, wouldn't you agree?
Step 3: Preview & Recover Data
- A window will open up where you will see a preview of the deleted Zipped files to be recovered. Choose the files.
- Click on the 'Recover' button located below and to the right. Your Zipped files will be recovered.
- As a final note, you are advised to save the recovered ZIPPED files in a secondary location and not the one they were initially deleted from.
Isn't Recoverit Mac Data Recovery the most user-friendly software you've seen? The three steps are so simple even a child could do it: Choose a drive, scan it, preview your files, and recover them.
Part 5: How to Fix Zip File on Mac
There are those rare but alarming situations when your Zipped files get corrupted. This is an unavoidable flaw on computers. Fortunately, it's fixable.
As to why the Zipped file got corrupted in the first place, it's possible the files within the Zip were already damaged; or an error occurred while downloading the file from the web. Below are common errors plaquing Zip files.
Unable To Expand Zip File on Mac - This error is mostly caused by an unstable internet connection. If your network keeps going on and off while you're downloading a Zipped file, the end result could be a corrupted archive.
The problem could also stem from you, the user. You might have been too hasty in closing the web browser while the Zipped file was still downloading, consequently corrupting it.
Sometimes, even if you manage to completely download the Zipped file, don't be surprised to learn it's few megabytes short of the size it's supposed to be. Because of those missing megabytes, your entire Zipped file could be corrupted.
The Archive is Corrupted – Believe it or not, even exposing your Mac to magnetic fields or excessive temperatures and mechanical problems could also corrupt a Zipped file. Likewise, unzipping very large files can also corrupt them.
End-of-Central-Directory Signature Not Found – Here's another pervasive error. The probable reason you will see this error is because of the incomplete download of a Zipped file. Another possible reason is the file was one part of a multi-part archive, and the other components are missing.
All the same, the most important thing for you here is to know how to repair corrupted Zipped files, isn't it? These errors can be fixed via Terminal or any decompression utility software, which of course will be a third-party software:
Method 1 (Terminal):
1. Launch Terminal on your Mac.
2. Type this command in the Terminal: unzip ~/Downloads/example.zip
(Replace the 'Downloads' you see in the above example with the directory of your Zipped file. If it's in your Downloads folder too, then leave the command as it is.
Method 2 (Unarchiver):
1. Go to your Mac App Store, download Unarchiver, and install it.
2. Open it.
3. Drag your files into the square, blank space on the left side of the software.
4. Click on 'Decompress.' Your files will be extracted. This software can even succeed where Terminal fails.
Closing Words
By now, you should fully agree with the infinite Mac users out there and on how significant Zip files are. No more are they deemed less important than other software. Indeed, the majority of websites hosting files do so with the files being Zipped.
What's more, you don't have to worry about the state of your Zipped files and the multitude of important files you have within them because of what Recoverit Mac Data Recovery can do for you. This software can be something of an 'insurance' for your Zipped files. If anything befalls them, Recoverit will be there to help recover ZIP and RAR files.
What's Wrong with Mac
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Would you like to prevent unauthorized people from accessing sensitive data that you store on data servers and shared computers, or send via email? Then it’s best to use password-protected archive files, like those in ZIP format.
You can password protect ZIP files on both Windows 10 and macOS. However, the range of functions provided by your system’s password-protection tools are limited. For this reason, we recommend using external software.
Password Protect ZIP Files with Windows System Tools
Microsoft Windows 10 provides a feature for password protecting files and folders which is integrated in the operating system. Windows password protection can also protect ZIP files from unauthorized access, without having to use third-party software. To activate password protection for your files, follow these steps:
Windows password protection is only available in the editions Microsoft Windows 10 Pro, Education, and Enterprise, not in Windows 10 Home.
Step 1: Using the right mouse button, click on the ZIP file that you would like to password protect.
Step 2: In the shortcut menu, select the “Properties” option to open the file properties.
Step 3: In the “General” tab, click on “Advanced” in order to open the “Advanced Attribute” dialog window.
Step 4: In the “Advanced Attributes” dialog window, select the check box next to “Encrypt contents to secure data”.
Step 5: Close the “Advanced Attributes” dialog window by clicking on “OK” and save the change in file properties by clicking on “OK” or “Apply”.
The file icon now displays a padlock. This indicates that the corresponding file is password protected. But what does this actually mean?
After you have activated password protection, you’ll note that you can still open the file without a password prompt. File content can also be displayed and processed without changes. Nevertheless, the file is password protected – with a key generated by Windows that is stored in your user account.
You have access to the file as long as you are logged into your user account. By contrast, other users will be denied access. This can be very practical in many situations. However, only in a few application cases does it serve as a password-protected ZIP file. For instance, this feature is not intended for sending password-protected ZIP files. For this, we recommend using a compression program with an encryption feature.
Encrypting File Folders with macOS Standard Tools
Though it’s true the Apple operating system macOS does not offer any native features for password protecting ZIP files, you can however protect the directories – in which ZIP files are located – as image files. To do so, follow these steps:
Step 1: Create a new folder in Finder – macOS’ standard file manager.
Step 2: Relocate all ZIP files that you’d like to protect into the folder you just created.
Step 3: Open the macOS hard drive service program. You can do this via Spotlight search.
Step 4: Click on “File” in the menu bar above and choose “Image from Folder” under “New Image”.
Step 5: Choose the folder you created at the beginning that has the files you wish to protect and click on “Open”.
Step 6: Give the image a name and choose a save location.
Step 7: Choose the type of encryption:
- 128-Bit-AES encryption (recommended)
- 256-Bit-AES encryption (more secure, but slower)
Step 8: Enter a password of your choosing and confirm entry by clicking on “Choose”.
Step 9: Make sure that the image format is set to “Compressed” and complete the process by clicking on “Save”.
The encrypted image is created in .dmg format in the save location you specified.
Mac Os Zip Password
Select the image by double-clicking on it and entering your password to access the password-protected file.
An open .dmg file is displayed as an integrated drive in Finder.
Eject the image via Finder if you are no longer using the protected files. Otherwise, they will remain accessible without a password prompt.
To make sure that your data is protected from unauthorized access, you should delete the unencrypted original data.
Password Protecting ZIP Files with Third-Party Software
Unzip Password Protected Zip File Mac Unsupported Compression Method 99
Since the options for each operating system are limited, we recommend using a third-party program. For example, we have chosen 7-Zip, a free packer application with a high compression rate and reliable encryption. It creates archive files in the 7z, TAR, WIM, and ZIP formats. The program’s encryption feature is available for 7z and ZIP files.
Gomovies download jumanji: the next level [2019] movie for free. Follow these steps to create a password-protected archive file for any file folder of your choosing:
Step 1: Download the open-source 7-Zip compression program from the provider’s website and install the software on your system.
7-Zip is automatically integrated into the Windows Explorer shortcut menu.
Step 2: Using the right mouse button, click on the file folder that you would like to encrypt.
Step 3: Choose “7-Zip” in the shortcut menu and click on “Add to archives…” in the pop-up menu.
Step 4: In the packer program’s configuration mask, you’ll find the required settings for the save location, archive format, compression strength, compression method, and encryption.
Mac Unzip Password Protected Zip File Opener
Enter a password, then enter it again.
In archive format, 7z is available with AES-256-bit encryption. This can also be used for password protecting ZIP files. What’s more, the latter can be encrypted with the ZipCrypto algorithm.
Opening an archive file that has been password protected with 7-Zip requires you to enter a password.
Unzip Password Protected Zip Windows
Windows users often utilize the WinZip packer program for password protecting ZIP files. The programs WinRAR, Peazip, Bandizip, and Ashampoo Zip Free also offer encryption features. We provide you with a detailed comparison of the range of features in our article on the most popular WinZip alternatives.