When the compression is finished, zipped items will be stored in a file called Archive.zip, which will be located in the same folder as the original items.

Select 'Compress (x) Items' from the pop-up menu.

Select the items you want to include in the zip file and right-click on any one of the items.

Open the folder with files or folders you want to zip up.

If you want to zip multiple files without first adding them to a folder, that's also possible with Archive Utility. Note the zipped file or folder will be created in the same location as the file or folder you zipped. Note: if you'd like to zip multiple files, it's best to put those files in the same folder.

Find the file or files you want to zip.

Here's how to zip a file on Mac with the Archive Utility: Its functionality is limited, but it's a decent option for quick zipping and unzipping of files and folders when you need to open zip files someone has sent you. Your Mac's simple Archive Utility, stored in the Applications > Utilities folder, is a simple, direct way to zip files. There’s also a built-in macOS utility that allows you to compress and decompress files and folders. How to zip files on a Mac with native utility

Select 'encrypt' if you want to secure the file with a password.

Drag the file you want to zip into the app.

It uses a drag-and-drop interface, allowing you to quickly archive and unzip all kinds of archiving formats, including RAR, which is not supported by macOS native archive utility.Īrchiver also offers encryption to additionally secure your files - it’s as easy as checking a box and assigning a password.

The fastest way to zip and unzip files on MacĪrchiver is the tool you're looking for. We use zip files for sending large files and bundles of PDF or text files, but it's now used as a method to send large folders of images as well as for downloading applications or games from the internet. Zipping files is a time-tested method, and is largely unchanged. It uses the '.zip' filename, and its icon is typically a folder with a zipper running up the middle. If you've ever downloaded an app or extension directly from a developer website, chances are it was a zipped file. You often encounter zip files in emails, as mentioned, but also when downloading from the internet. What is a zip file?Ī zip file is a lossless way to compress and archive files and folders. Below, we are going to explore how to unzip files on Mac, how to create zip archives, and showcase some archivers that make it really easy to zip and manage zipped files. How do you open a zip file on a Mac? Or what's the best way to do that? There are, of course, several methods for creating archives, such as built-in utilities, Terminal, and third-party apps.

How to use a rar file on mac