You have a ZIP file on your Mac and need the files inside, but opening it gets complicated when it launches the wrong app or asks for a password. For standard ZIP files, macOS includes everything you need: a double-click extracts the contents beside the archive. Start there, then use the options below to handle encrypted archives, change the extractor, or pull out individual files.
Double-click the ZIP to extract it
This opens a standard ZIP without installing another app.
Locate your .zip file in Finder or on the desktop.
Double-click the ZIP. The extracted item appears beside the original archive.
Open the extracted item to access its contents.
Choose Archive Utility when the wrong app opens
If double-clicking launches another app, choose the extractor directly in Finder. This opens that ZIP with the app you select.
Control-click the ZIP file in Finder.
Choose Open With > Archive Utility. You can also select an installed third-party extractor from this menu.
For a keyboard alternative, select the ZIP in Finder.
Press Command-O or Command–Down Arrow. These shortcuts use the file’s associated app, which is Archive Utility when the default ZIP association is unchanged.
Open a password-protected ZIP
An encrypted archive needs its password and an extractor that supports its encryption method. Keka accepts passwords during extraction, while The Unarchiver explicitly supports AES-encrypted ZIP files.
Install Keka from its official download page.
Drop the archive onto Keka’s window or Dock icon.
Enter the archive password when prompted.
If extraction fails on an AES-encrypted ZIP, install The Unarchiver. It also supports ZIPX and Zip64 archives.
Control-click the archive in Finder.
Choose Open With > The Unarchiver to try extracting the archive that Keka could not open.
Make your preferred extractor the default
Set the ZIP file association so double-clicking uses Archive Utility or another installed extractor.
- 1.Select a ZIP file in Finder.
- 2.Choose File > Get Info.
- 3.Expand Open with.
- 4.Select Archive Utility or your preferred installed extractor.
- 5.Click Change All.
Stop Safari from unzipping downloads automatically
Safari’s Open “safe” files after downloading setting controls automatic extraction of downloaded ZIP files.
Open Safari > Settings > General.
Turn off Open “safe” files after downloading to keep downloaded ZIPs for manual opening.
To restore automatic extraction, enable Open “safe” files after downloading.
Extract only the files you need
Open the ZIP in BetterZip. BetterZip 6 requires macOS 13.5 or later.
Select the files or folders you want from the archive.
Choose File > Extract Selected….
Choose a destination.
Click Extract Here.
You can also drag individual files or folders from BetterZip into a Finder window or onto the desktop.
Send extracted files to a specific folder with Terminal
Open Terminal.
Run unzip "/path/to/archive.zip" -d "/path/to/output", replacing both example paths with the actual ZIP location and your chosen output folder. The -d option sets the destination; without it, unzip extracts into Terminal’s current working directory.
For a password-protected ZIP with supported encryption, enter the archive password when prompted. The command’s encryption support is limited, so it cannot open every encrypted ZIP.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete the ZIP after extracting it?
Yes. You can delete the original ZIP after extraction and keep the extracted contents.
Can I unzip several archives at once?
Yes. With Keka installed, drop multiple archives onto its window or Dock icon to extract them.
Can I extract only PDF files with Terminal?
Yes. Run unzip "/path/to/archive.zip" "*.pdf" -d "/path/to/output", replacing the example paths with your own. Keep the pattern in quotes. To list the archive’s entries first, run unzip -l "/path/to/archive.zip".