Sep 28, 2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions

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.

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Part 1: What Is a Zip File on Mac

When you use the 'Create Archive' function on your Mac (to create a zip file), hidden files are inserted into the zip archive. While you cannot see these files on your mac, PC users will be able to see files and folders that would be hidden on the Mac: The '.DSStore' file and 'MACOSX' folder. WinRAR is a data compression tool for Windows that focuses on RAR and ZIP files. It also supports CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR, Gzip, UUE, ISO, BZIP2, Z and 7-Zip.

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.

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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).

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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.

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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)

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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 nea

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