If you're in the habit of downloading a lot of data from the web to your Mac, chances are you've come across a ZIP file before. These archives are nothing more than compressed files, which having a reduced size can be downloaded more quickly and easily. However, before you can access the data they contain, you must unzip them on your computer. To perform this operation on Mac there are basically 3 methods: by double clicking on the file icon, using the "Terminal" window or using a third party program. If one of these methods doesn't work, don't despair and try one of the others.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Double Click
Step 1. Locate the ZIP file using the Finder window
Open Finder and use it to navigate to the folder where the ZIP file you downloaded is stored. It will have a name similar to the following "filename.zip".
Step 2. Double-click the ZIP file icon
The data decompression process will start automatically.
If you need to decompress multiple folders, hold down the "Shift" key while clicking on the icon of all those to be processed
Step 3. Click on the contents of the ZIP file you want to access
The unzipped folders that were present in the ZIP archive are stored in the same directory as the original compressed archive.
Method 2 of 3: Using the Terminal Window
Step 1. Open the Spotlight search bar
Click on the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 2. Move the ZIP file directly to the Mac desktop
Step 3. Type the word "Terminal" and open the corresponding app
Step 4. Type the command "cd desktop" and press the "Enter" key
Step 5. Type the command "unzip name_ZIP_file" and press the "Enter" key
Replace the parameter name_ZIP_file with the full name of the archive to be decompressed including the extension ".zip".
For example, if the file name is "file.zip", you will need to type the cd desktop command, press the "Enter" key, run the unzip file.zip command and press the "Enter" key again
Step 6. Access the data you extracted from the ZIP file
Double-click on the folder that appeared on the desktop to access the data that was stored in the compressed archive.
Method 3 of 3: Using a Third Party App
Step 1. Download a third party program that can decompress compressed files
Do a Google search for a free program that can decompress ZIP files on Mac. There are several programs that can do this, including the following:
- The Unarchiver;
- WinZip (Mac version);
- Keka;
- Better Zip 4.
Step 2. Locate the ZIP file to unzip
You will find it in the folder where you downloaded it. You can use a Finder window.
Step 3. Click on the File menu, then click on the item Get information.
A new window will appear in which various options will be listed.
Step 4. Scroll down to the Open With section, then select the program you installed
If you have downloaded it to your computer, you should be able to use it right away.
If the unzip program isn't listed, try restarting your Mac
Step 5. Select the "Edit All" option
The ZIP file decompression process will start. The data extracted from the compressed archive will be visible in the same folder where the original ZIP file is located.
