In the drop-down menu that appears, click on 'Compress.' A zip file will be created in the same directory as the original folder. Make a folder for the file or files you want to Zip.ĥ.
How to Create Zip Files and Folder on MacĢ. The file is then Zipped while the original is left just the way it was. Select 'Compress' in the drop-down menu you see. Right-click on the said file or folder.ģ. Open a Finder window, then locate the file or folder you want to zip.Ģ. Only the free solutions will be given out to you today, though. Some are free but there are paid options too (third-party software). There are several ways to the Zip file on Mac. It uses a native tool called 'Archive Utility' that does the job for you. Zipping a file on Mac gives you great solutions to these questions. 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? You might ask yourself if knowing how to create and open Zip files are really worth taking the time out to know.
Do you now see the marked difference between the two formats? Part 2: How to Zip a File on Mac for Free Zip files are well and truly capable of saving over 80% or more of the space in your Mac's hard drive. And when it comes to the archive creation process, its speed is relatively faster than that of the Rar format. Thus, the majority of users have software that can open Zip files primarily. The Zip file format is a free and open-source, making it more popular. The same can't be said for the Rar format because it often requires third-party software to be opened. Because the Zip format is older, both Windows and Mac come pre-installed with software that is capable of opening it. 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.Īlong the same vein, compatibility is also a difference.
Rar is very similar to the Zip but they are quite different too. Zip is simply a data archive and compression format. If you want to make a zip without those invisible Mac resource files such as 'MACOSX' or '.Filename' and.ds store files, use the '-X' option in the command so: zip -r -X archivename.zip foldertocompress TAR.GZ – Cross Platform. If you've ever downloaded a large amount of data onto your computer, you've probably come across a.zip file or two.Zip files are compressed files, so they're quicker to download and easier to access. Now you can easily select file(s) to preview and extract. For files once you unzip.īetter Unarchiver can also be used to safely open and unzip tar files on Mac. Tasty Unzip is a lightweight OS X application that enhances the way your Mac handles. If you don't know how to go about doing it, have a look below for an extensive lesson.
Knowing how to Zip or Unzip files for Mac should thus be a prerequisite for you. 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. 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.