- Zip Files On Mac For Pc Computers
- Free Zip File For Mac
- Create Zip Files On Mac
- Zip Files On Mac For Pc Windows 10
Zipping files on Apple/Mac is a chore because of all the hidden files and folders added by macOS. Like
.DS_Store
and __MACOSX
are two of the most common files and folders that are added to zip files when compressed on macOS. The Most Popular File Compression Utility for Windows Welcome to your one-stop file manager. Start saving your time with the world's #1 compression software. Zip, protect, manage and share all your files quickly and easily. On your Mac, do any of the following: Compress a file or folder: Control-click it or tap it using two fingers, then choose Compress from the shortcut menu. If you compress a single item, the compressed file has the name of the original item with the.zip extension. If you compress multiple items at once, the compressed file is called Archive.zip.
The folder named
__MACOSX
especially is problematic because it contains duplicates of every file in the zip archive. So for example, if you use Finder to compress 20 files, the resulting zip file will contain the original 20 files, plus an additional 20 files all hidden under the /__MACOSX/
folder.It’s a real pain and can be confusing to deal with because when you unzip the files on a Mac, the hidden files and folders are not included in the unzipped files. So you won’t be able to view them, even after you enable display of hidden files. The only way to view all the hidden files/folders is to open the zip file on a non-Mac machine, like PC/Windows or Linux.
Hidden Files: To view hidden files on PC/Win, visit View Options in File Explorer. To view hidden files on Mac, the easiest way is to use a free app like Funter.
Hidden Files
Here are some screenshots showing the hidden files and folders that are included for any folder compressed (zipped) on macOS. First screenshot shows the hidden
__MACOSX
directory, which is visible on PC when you open the zip file.On PC/Win the hidden files (like __MACOSX) are visible
The next screenshot shows the set of duplicate files and folders that are included in zip files compressed on macOS. Notice the file names, each begin with a dot
.
, which makes the files hidden by default on most systems.Mac includes hidden duplicates of every compressed file (viewed on PC)
Now compare those previous screenshots (taken on PC) with the following screenshot (taken on Mac). Even with “show hidden files” enabled, the hidden
__MACOSX
folder and all the hidden files are not included (i.e., they do not exist hidden or otherwise) in the unzipped archive.Mac excludes all hidden macOS files when opening zip archives (view hidden files enabled)
So again, all the hidden files/folders added by Mac are included in the unzipped files ONLY when the files are unzipped on non-Mac machines. Thus the confusion: Why on earth are the hidden files added in the first place? They are completely excluded when unzipping on Mac, and never needed for any reason on any other machine. In fact quite the opposite: the hidden files serve NO purpose other than to waste bandwidth, time, energy, resources, etc.
Why does macOS include hidden files in zip archives? It makes absolutely zero sense.
Real Problems
This is a real problem because many people use Mac to zip files to share on the Web. Problem is that not everyone uses a Mac. So anyone downloading your zip files on their Windows, Linux, or other non-Mac is going to see all those hidden files and folders. Which are utterly useless to non-Mac devices and users.
Further, by adding a duplicate set of hidden files to the zip archive, Mac essentially is doubling the size of the download zip file, which of course wastes bandwidth, disk space, and everything else. May not be a huge deal for smaller zip files, but we’re talking about potentially millions or billions of zip files downloaded every day, needlessly bloated with useless data.
Web Devs: The hidden
__MACOSX
directory and its duplicate set of files can cause problems with things like installing WordPress plugins and other applications. So if you are WordPress/Web developer, use a version-control system to manage and package/zip your files. That way you keep all the hidden junk completely out of the picture. Alternately if you aren’t using version control, you can remove/exclude unwanted hidden files using one of the techniques below.Real Solutions
Fortunately, all the hidden garbage is not needed on any machine — including Mac — so it’s all 100% totally safe to delete. So regardless of which machine/OS you are using, you can safely delete
__MACOSX
and .DS_Store
from any zip archive. The files literally are useless. Read on to learn some different techniques for removing the __MACOSX
and .DS_Store
from ZIP Files on macOS.PC/Win users: The techniques below explain how to remove/delete unwanted hidden files on Mac. If you are using PC/Win, you can simply open the archive and delete any unwanted hidden files.
Use software to exclude hidden files from NEW zip archives
For new files, you can use an app such as YemuZip or any free alternative to zip compress new files without any hidden junk.
I don’t know of any apps that can retroactively remove hidden files/folders from existing zip files. If you know of any, drop a comment or send via contact form.
Use an app like YemuZip or free alternative to compress/zip without any hidden files
Use command line to exclude hidden files from NEW zip archives
On Mac you can use Terminal to easily remove all of the hidden files/folders from existing zip files. Here are some techniques that I use for my own projects.
When creating new ZIP archives, you can use the
zip
command to compress/zip files without any hidden files like .DS_Store
and __MACOSX
. Here are the steps:- Open the Terminal app
- Navigate to the folder that contains the files you want to zip
- Type or paste the following command into Terminal*:
- Press Enter to execute and done.
The resulting zip archive will be named
data.zip
and located in the same directory as the original uncompressed files. The data.zip
archive will not include any __MACOSX
or “dot-hidden” files (i.e., file names that begin with a literal dot).*Important: The above command will remove all dot-hidden files, including files like .htaccess and other common/useful files. So if you want to keep some hidden files and only remove the ones added by macOS, use this command instead:
Tip: Use the
cd
and ls
commands to navigate in Terminal.Example
To give this a real-world example. Let’s say you have a folder on your desktop called
Folder
that includes a bunch of files that you want to zip/compress.First, open terminal and write following commands:
Now you have a file called
data.zip
on your desktop that does not include any __MACOSX
or .DS_Store
files. I.e., a nice clean zip file with no hidden garbage.Use command line to remove hidden files from EXISTING zip archives
The above techniques show how to exclude hidden files when creating new zip archives. But what if you want to remove hidden files from an existing zip archive? Easy. In Terminal, navigate to the directory that contains your zip file and enter the following two commands:
And/or if you have multiple zip archives in some folder, and want to remove all hidden macOS files from all of them in bulk. Use Terminal to navigate to the folder and enter the following commands:
I use this technique for zip files I serve here at Perishable Press and elsewhere.
Tip
For a “quieter” Terminal experience, you can add the
q
(quiet) or qq
(quieter) parameter to the previous bulk-delete command:Cheers people.
Jeff Starr = Fullstack Developer. Book Author. Teacher. Human Being.
Have you received an email with a ZIP file attachment, and you didn’t know what to do with it? Just like regular digital folders, you can easily open a ZIP file on almost any computer or operating system. But, unlike regular folders, you need more than just a simple double-click to use the files inside it. Here’s how to open a ZIP file on a Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, and Android devices.
What is a ZIP File?
A ZIP file is a type of file format that contains compressed filesand folders for the purpose of archiving, storage, and/or transmission. It istreated as one file when being transferred or transmitted from one digitalstorage space to another. These files have the file extension “.zip” atthe end of their name.
Most operating systems have built-in software that can create and open ZIP files. But there is also third-party software you can use, such as WinZip, 7zip, and WinRAR, that can also do the same.
How to Open a ZIP File on Windows 10
If you’re using a PC at home, you can easily open a ZIP file with thebuilt-in Windows Compressed Folder.To open a ZIP file using this Windows 10 feature, simply follow the stepsbelow:
- Locate the ZIP file you want to open. If you downloaded the ZIP file from the internet or as an email attachment, you might find it in the Downloads folder in your System Drive.
- Right-click on the ZIP file and select “Extract All…” Once you select “Extract All,” you will get a new pop-up menu.
- In the pop-up menu, select a location to extract the files. If you want your files to be extracted in another location, click “Browse” and select your destination in the pop-up window.
- Once you’ve selected a destination folder, click “OK.”Note: Make sure to check “Show extracted files when complete” so you can immediately find the unzipped files after it is opened and extracted.
- Finally, click “Extract” in the pop-up menu. The built-in software will start extracting the files from inside the ZIP folder.
Once the extraction is complete, a window will pop-up, displayingall the extracted files from the ZIP file.
How to Open ZIP Files on Mac?
If you have a Mac, you can still easily unzip orextract files from a ZIP file using Mac’s Archive Utility tool. Here’s how toopen a ZIP file using the Archive Utility tool in Mac:
- Locate the ZIP file you want to open. If you’re not sure where you stored the ZIP file after downloading it, check the Downloads folder.
- Double-click the ZIP file. This will automatically begin the file extraction, which may take a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the number and size of the files being extracted.
When the extraction is complete, a window will pop up to displaythe extracted files or folders. If no window opens up after the extraction iscomplete, simply locate the extracted folder to display the extractedfiles.
How to Open a ZIP File on Android Devices
For Android phones, you will needto download and install a zip file opener, such as the Filesapp from Google Play Store, to extract files from a ZIP file. The application comespre-installed on many Android phones. To check if you already have the app, tapthe Apps button, which looks like a square of four or nine dots on your homescreen.
- Open the Files app. If you’re going through the initial setup, you may have to give the app access to photos, media, and files in your device. Click Allow to do this.
- Then click Browse at the bottom of your screen.
- Locate the ZIP file you want to extract. If you’ve downloaded it as an attachment from an email, you may find it in the “Download” folder.
- Tap the file you want to open and then tap Extract. This will open a list of the files in the ZIP folder.
- Finally, tap Done. You can access any of the files by tapping “All” at the top of your screen and then clicking the downward arrow next to the right of a file. Then tap “Open with” and choose an application.
How to Open Zip Files on an iPhone
![Zip Zip](/uploads/1/1/7/8/117849604/895424680.png)
Zip Files On Mac For Pc Computers
Much like with Mac computers, iPhones and other Apple devices havea default feature that allows you to see your ZIP files. However, to actuallyextract workable files from a ZIP file on your mobile device, you need toinstall an archiving application such as iZip from the App Store. Much like the Files app for Android, iZip isa free application so no need to worry about fees or subscription costs.
- Download, install, and open the iZip app.
- Then tap Files at the top of your screen. This will only work after you have downloaded the ZIP file to your iPhone.
- Locate the ZIP file you want to extract files from. If you’ve downloaded the file from a website or an email, check for the ZIP file inside your Files app. Note: If you do not see your ZIP file in Files, go back to the ZIP file and select the “send to” button. Then tap “More” and select “Copy to iZip.”
- Tap the ZIP file you want to extract. Then, tap and hold for a second or two to open a pop-up menu.
- Finally, tap OK in the pop-up. This will automatically unzip (or extract) all the files in the ZIP folder. Depending on the size, this may take a few seconds to a few minutes.
Free Zip File For Mac
Once you have extracted all the filesand folders, you can view them through the iZip app. If you want to open a filewith a certain app, tap the “Open In” button at the bottom of your screen.
Now that you know how to open a ZIP file on Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android, check out our article on how to zip a file or create zip files.
Create Zip Files On Mac
Updated on December 6, 2019