How to Extract Files on Mac

Extracting files from a zip folder on a Mac can be a bit different than on Windows, but don't worry, we've got you covered. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of extracting files on your Mac.

When you unzip a file on a Mac, it will automatically create a new folder with the same name as the zip file. Unlike on Windows, you can't open the zip file directly; instead, all the contents are extracted into this new folder. To extract a single file, simply drag and drop it out of the zip folder.

If you want to extract all the files at once, right-click (or control-click) on the zip file and select the 'Extract All' option. This will display a list of files, allowing you to easily double-click on the one you need to extract.

In contrast to Windows, Macs also allow you to create encrypted zip files using the Terminal. Additionally, while you can add more files to a zip file in Windows, this is not possible on a Mac.

To compress a folder into a zip file on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Select the folder you want to compress.

2. Right-click (or control-click) on the folder and select 'Compression' from the pop-up window.

3. Choose 'Compressed (zipped) folder' as the compression option.

When you're done, all the files will be sent to a compressed file with the default name 'Archive.zip'. This compressed file can then be easily uploaded online or attached to an email.

One of the benefits of using zip files is that they are compressed, which means they take up less space. This makes it easier to attach heavier files to emails and send them across the web. Instead of attaching multiple large files, you can club them all together in a single zip file and send that one file quickly.

By following these simple steps, you'll be able to extract files on your Mac with ease.

How to extract on mac