Software

How to Open Compressed Files on Mac

While working with lots of different files like photos or documents compressing them into one archive can be the best solution for anyone. It’s perfect if you need to share a lot of similar files with someone without spending hours picking and sending every single one. Or you can’t send a file because of its format, which is quite a spread practice on some platforms. It’s some kind of banning policy, when you’re not allowed to share audio, for instance, because of copyright etc. And the only option here is to simply place your audio into a zip archive. If you use something rarely it’s smarter to have it in achieve and save place for something more important.

Unarchivers are super simple, but extremely useful tool helping all of us in our everyday life as well as working routine. Photographers, for instance, cannot find more easy and accessible solution to send their works to clients. And since you compress your files they reduce in size, which speeds up the whole process of sharing it with people. The best part of it is that the quality stays the same. Picture it as kind of tight package, your data and folders are sealed and remain safe during transportation.

But as soon as your package arrives people need to get the stuff out, here are some fine tools for opening compressed files on your Macbook. Firstly, there are some free solutions that might help you out with simple zip files. And even built-in compression program can do quite a decent job with zipping and unzipping, but that’s it. If you need to unarchive ANY file on your MacBook you got to check out next apps that offer way more features and consequently more freedom.

BetterZip

BetterZip
This application allows you to compress data using different packing algorith, while reducing the original file size. The program can perform various actions with file archives without unpacking their contents. Have you ever faced this feature of some unarchivers when you cannot view the data in the archive itself? BetterZip gives the possibility to have a look at the documents and then open what you really need. The app works using the Drag & Drop method, and UI is very handy and modern looking. You can also use third-party programs to edit files within the archive. With BetterZip you’re able to open more than 30 formats, and all your archives are protected with AES-256 encryption. The only thing to bear in mind is if you work with RAR-encoded files you’ll need to download an add-on from the program menu.

WinZip for Mac

WinZip for Mac
All Windows users are familiar with good old WinZip or WinRar. WinZip 6 for Mac is a nice archiver that will help you easily compress and encrypt documents, saving disk space and optimizing email attachments. It provides users with the features and functions of Mac edition WinZip with a new neat interface. It also supports several formats, including TAR, gzip, UUencode, XXencode, BinHex, MIME, ARJ, LZH, and ARC. WinZip provides the ability to reduce the size of folders significantly, similar to BetterZip it protects the privacy of information with AES-256 encryption. By clicking on the “Action” button you can choose any or no encryption. Compressed mail attachments are sent instantly, you can also unzip files directly to Google Drive, iCloud, ZipShare or DropBox. You can always use it for free unless you need special functions.

The Unarchiver

The Unarchiver

The Unarchiver developed by Macpaw, same as Betterzip. The Unarchiver is a more functional replacement for the built-in Mac compression program. It supports a lot more formats like Zip, Tar-GZip, Tar-BZip2, RAR, 7-zip, LhA. Apart from the well-known compression formats, it works with unusual ones like CBZ, CBR, GTAR, RMP, EXE, PAX, HX, SIT and more. The Unarchiver is very easy to use, no need to even transport the data to it. As soon as you download the app you can simply double click on any file and the program will take care of it.

If you have any questions, please ask below!