How to open a zip file on a Mac?
Double-click to open it, and the Mac comes with its own functions without third-party software. 1. Find the .zip file and double-click it, and the system will automatically decompress it using the built-in Archive Utility; 2. After decompression, generate a folder with the same name, located in the same location of the original file; 3. If you need to change the decompression position, you can right-click to select "Open with Archive Utility" or set preferences in the application; 4. When encountering a password-protected zip file, enter the correct password to decompress it; 5. If decompression fails, check whether the file is corrupt, whether the extension is correct or re-downloaded. The entire process is simple and efficient, and usually the decompression task can be completed without additional operations.

Opening a zip file on a Mac is simple and doesn't require any third-party software—your Mac can handle it natively. Here's how to do it:

Use Built-in Archive Utility (Default Method)
macOS comes with a built-in tool called Archive Utility that automatically decompresses zip files when you double-click them.
- Locate the zip file on your Mac (usually in Downloads, Desktop, or wherever you saved it).
- Double-click the zip file (it usually has a .zip extension and looks like a folder with a zipper).
- The system will automatically extract the contents into a new folder with the same name as the zip file (but without the .zip extension).
- This new folder appears in the same location as the original zip file.
For example, if you have "Photos.zip" on your Desktop, double-clicking it will create a folder named "Photos" right next to it.
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Change Where Files Are Extracted (Optional)
If you want to control where extracted files go, you can adjust Archive Utility settings:
- Right-click (or Control-click) the zip file and choose Open With > Archive Utility .
- To change default behavior:
- Open Archive Utility (go to
/System/Library/CoreServices/Applications/Archive Utility.app). - Choose Archive Utility > Preferences .
- Set options like:
- Where to save expanded items (eg, to a specific folder).
- Whether to keep the original zip file or delete it after extraction.
- Open Archive Utility (go to
What if the zip file is password-protected?
If the zip file is encrypted, macOS will prompt you to enter a password when you try to open it. Type the correct password, and extraction will proceed. If you don't know the password, you won't be able to access the contents.

Troubleshooting Tips
- Corrupted zip file? If you get an error, the file might be incomplete or damaged. Try downloading it again.
- Can't open at all? Make sure the file actually is a zip file. Sometimes file extensions are mislabeled.
- Large files taking too long? Extraction time depends on file size and your Mac's performance—just wait it out.
Basically, just double-click and let macOS do the rest. No extra apps needed for most cases.
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