How to unzip a file on a Mac? ZIP is one of the most commonly used formats for file compressing. You can put a lot of files in a single zip archive and the file size is dramatically smaller than origin. That is why it is so popluar nowadays. But how do you extract a .zip file on a Mac? Since Mac doesn't natively support the .zip format, which means zip file can't be opened on Mac by default.
Actually, you will need a special archiving tool to extract the content of zip files. In this article, we show you three different ways to unzip a file on a Mac computer.
Attaching a ZIP file to an email offers multiple advantages. The cons include increased risk of file corruption and ZIP files take longer to open. In Windows 7 WinZip is not needed to unzip files. When deciding between using RAR or ZIP to create a compressed file go with ZIP. Windows 7-10 are incapable of opening a RAR file without downloading. WinZip is the world's #1 choice when working with large files – zip, unzip, protect, share and more. Zip and unzip files instantly; Protect files with banking-level AES encryption; Share directly to iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive and ZipShare, from within WinZip. Mac Basics, Help and Buying Advice MacRumors attracts a broad audience of both consumers and professionals interested in the latest technologies and products. We also boast an active community focused on purchasing decisions and technical aspects of the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Mac platforms.
Part 1. How to Unzip a File in Mac Terminal
This method utilizes Apple's Terminal application, which is the non-GUI interface for Mac OS X and macOS systems. This text-based interface allows you to input both simple and complex commands for the OS to process. While most people are intimidated by command line work, it's actually not that hard once you get the hang of it. Unfortunately, a lot of things can go wrong if you enter incorrect commands, hence the apprehension for novice users. But if you'd like to give it a go, follow the steps shown below:
Step 1. Save your .zip file to a convenient location such as your desktop or documents folder.
Step 2. Open an instance of Terminal by going to Applications >>Utilities >>Terminal.
Step 3. Change the directory to where the .zip file is stored. This is an important step. To do this, type in the following and then hit Enter:
cd ~/users/username/desktop
Step 4. Make sure the file path is correct. Terminal needs to be in the right directory for the next command to work.
Step 5. Now use the following command to extract the .zip file and save the contents in a folder of the same name, and in the same location.
unzip samplefile.zip
A new folder of the same name will be created in your desktop or documents, and will contain all the extracted files from the original .zip file. If this method looks too risky, then how about trying a robust software utility that can do the same thing, but without all the command line input?
Cons:
- Risky if inputting wrong commands.
- Take much more time.
- The unzipped folder would be a mess with wrong parameter.
Part 2 : How to Extract a ZIP File on Mac with CleanGeeker
TunesBro CleanGeeker is a comprehensive utility to optimize the performance of your Mac by managing memory resources. However, it also has several other utilities built in, and one of those is a highly functional unarchiver tool that is perfect for unzipping .zip files and also unpacking archives such as RAR, Tar, GZ and several more.
CleanGeeker allows you to extract, save and even email the contents of .zip and other archive files to someone else. The intuitive interface just requires a drag and drop action, or you can import it using the 'Open Archive' option. Follow the instructions below to extract files from .zip.
Highlights of TunesBro CleanGeeker
- Extract content from varios archive files.
- Find and removal junk and cache on Mac.
- Obtain more space and running memory in one click.
- Uninstall apps that would be deleted in normal ways.
Step 1Install and Run TunesBro CleanGeeker
Download and install CleanGeeker on your Mac, and launch the application.
Step 2Import ZIP File and Unzip it
Click on Unarchiver in the left-side menu panel. Either drag and drop the .zip file into the window from Finder, or click 'Open Archive' and select the .zip file. The contents will automatically be visible within a folder with the same name as the archive file. You can now view the contents of the .zip file, extract and save them to another location or even email them to someone from the interface.
If you want simplicity, then this is the application for you. No command line work, no complex settings to confuse you, and literally no effort on your part except a couple of clicks.
Part 3. How to Open ZIP File by WinZip on Macbook Pro ($$$)
WinZip is a well-known archive/unarchive utility for Windows, and the Mac Edition is ideal for extracting .zip and other archive files on a Mac computer. It also provides data encryption options and can connect directly to cloud services like Google Drive and Dropbox. To use WinZip to unpack a .zip file, reproduce the steps below on your Mac:
Step 1. Download and install WinZip Mac Edition, and open the application.
Step 2. Click on the Files pane, navigate to the .zip file and double-click it.
Step 3. In the Actions pane, click on the down arrow and select the destination folder. You can also create a new folder to save the extracted contents. Finally, click on 'Unzip' to extract the content.
Cons:
- Very expensive ($29.95).
- Poor user interface.
- No additional feature.
Conclusion:
WinZip Mac Edition is a great tool, but it might look expensive if you're only going to be using it occasionally. On the other hand, something like CleanGeeker gives you a whole lot of other functions such as removing junk, duplicates and large files, uninstalling apps, erasing data permanently, optimizing your login items, cleaning up your memory and so on. Price-wise, it's not a hard decision to make considering the robust suite of tools you're getting in addition to the Unarchiver utility. If you're not comfortable with Terminal inputs, then either of these two applications will be the ideal alternative.
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SOFTWARE, OFFICIAL RELEASES
If Oracle Database (Release 11 or later) is also installed, a version of SQL Developer is also included and is accessible through the menu system under Oracle.This version of SQL Developer is separate from any SQL Developer kit that you download and unzip on your own, so do not confuse the two, and do not unzip a kit over the SQL Developer files that are included with Oracle Database. Compared to other Zip downloads like WinZip, WinRAR, and similar programs, 7Zip download comes with a feature-packed interface. As such, it’s the preferred choice of users around the world. Since it’s a free, open-source tool, you can download zip files on your Windows PC without a license, registration or payments.
Battlegrounds: RPG Edition v1.8b Demo for Windows (141.8 MB ZIP): Download
Battlegrounds: RPG Edition v1.8b Demo for Mac OS X (147.0 MB ZIP): Download
Battlegrounds: RPG Edition v1.8b Demo for Mac OS X (146.7 MB, in DMG format): Download
Note to Mac OS X users: We recommend that you download the DMG file instead of the ZIP file. If you prefer the Zip file, we recommend that you unzip it using Mac OS X’s built-in unzipping utility, as some users have reported problems decompressing our Zip files using StuffIt Expander.
Battlegrounds Gaming Engine v1.5 Demo for Windows (49.3 MB ZIP): Download
Battlegrounds Gaming Engine v1.5 Demo for Mac OS X (50.2 MB ZIP): Download
SOFTWARE, BETA RELEASES
Don’t let the beta status scare you! Most beta releases are actually more reliable than the official release, due to numerous bug fixes. And you’ll have access to great new features in almost every release.
Battlegrounds: RPG Edition v1.8c: Read about it and download it here.
Battlegrounds: RPG Edition v1.9: Read about it and download it here.
Battlegrounds Gaming Engine v1.7: Read about it and download it here.
Battlegrounds Gaming Engine v1.8: Read about it and download it here.
DOCUMENTATION
BRPG User Manual (updated for v1.7, 169-page PDF, 14.5 MB): Download
Note: This is the User Manual that is currently included with the BRPG v1.8b software download. It is provided here separately for those who wish to evaluate the product without having to download the whole program.
Addendum toBRPG User Manual (4-page PDF, 60 KB): Download
Quick Reference Sheet forBRPG (1-page PDF, 81 KB): Download
BGE User Manual (v1.0, 158-page PDF, 11.2 MB): Download
Note: This is the User Manual that is currently included with the BGE v1.3 software download. It is provided here separately for those who wish to evaluate the product without having to download the whole program.
Addendum toBGE User Manual (3-page PDF, 56 KB): Download
QuickStart Guide forBGE (3-page PDF, 56 KB): Download
Quick Reference Sheet forBGE (1-page PDF, 81 KB):
FREE ADVENTURES!
(for BRPG only; not usable with BGE)
“The Quick and the Dead”
Read about it and download it here.
“A Simple Job”
Read about it and download it here.
FREE ARTPACKS!
“Component Sewer Pack 1”
Read about it and download it here.
“Vry’s PC & NPC Tokens”
Read about it and download it here.
“Vry’s Monster Tokens”
Read about it and download it here.
How To Download A Zip File On Mac Without Unzipping
“Cyberdrake’s Outdoor Map Tiles Pack”
Read about it and download it here.
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“Cyberdrake’s Indoor Map Tiles Pack”
Read about it and download it here.
“Dice Pack”
Read about it and download it here.
“Devin Night’s Sci-Fi Tokens”
Read about it and download it here.
“Roads & Vehicles”
Read about it and download it here.
“Modern Streets Tile Pack”
Read about it and download it here.
FREE GAMES!
Note: Due to the “12 units max” limitation in the BRPG and BGE Demos, you will not be able to effectively preview these free digital game conversions using just the free Demo software (i.e., a license or a subscription is required)
“Aliens Boardgame”
Read about it and download it here (BRPG version) or here (BGE version).
“Aliens Boardgame Variant”
Read about it and download it here (BRPG version) or here (BGE version).
How To Zip And Unzip Files On Mac
“Zombie Plague Boardgame”
Read about it and download it here (BRPG version) or here (BGE version).
“Zombie Plague Expansion Pack”
Read about it and download it here (BRPG version) or here (BGE version).
“Dead of Night Boardgame”
Read about it and download it here (BRPG version) or here (BGE version).
“Close Assault Wargame (Basic Game)”
Read about it and download it here (BRPG version) or here (BGE version).
“Chunky Fighters Dice Game”
Read about it and download it here (BRPG version) or here (BGE version).
“D-Day Dice Game”
Read about it and download it here (BRPG version) or here (BGE version).
“Feudal Ops”
Read about it and download it here (BRPG version) or here (BGE version).
“For Sale (Star Wars Edition)”
Read about it and download it here (BRPG version) or here (BGE version).
“The Dungeon of D”
Read about it and download it here (BRPG version) or here (BGE version).
“Up Front”
Read about it and download it here (BRPG version) or here (BGE version).
“The Island of D 2”
Read about it and download it here (BRPG version) or here (BGE version).
“Zombinion”
Read about it and download it here (BRPG version) or here (BGE version).
“Pioneer in Peril”
Read about it and download it here (BGE version).
“Aliens: This Time It’s War”
Read about it and download it here (BGE version).
“Battle Line” and “Schotten-Totten”
Read about it and download it here (BGE version).
“Fantasy Quest”
Sorry, this game conversion is no longer available, per the designer’s request, now that the game has been published.
“Outrider”
Read about it and download it here (BGE version).
“Dice of the Living Dead”
Read about it and download it here (BGE version).
“Thrones”
Read about it and download it here (BGE version).
“Ostfront”
Read about it and download it here (BGE version).
Can't Open Zip File Mac
“Zombies in our Neighborhood”
Read about it and download it here (BGE version).
“Star Trek: The Dice Game”
Read about it and download it here (BGE version).
Zip File Extractor Free Mac
Also be sure to check the Links & Resources page, and the User Creations section of the BG Forums, for places where you can download high-quality art for your maps, digital minis and props, and royalty free audio files (music and sound effects) to use in your games.