Category Archives: Macintosh

How to Download and Open ZIP Files on Apple Macintosh

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Image representing Apple as depicted in CrunchBase

Image via CrunchBase

 

Downloading ZIP files on Apple Macintosh

Downloading ZIP files on Apple Macintosh is basically the same with downloading other files on the Apple Mac computer. Just clicking the download button on the site for Apple Macintosh will start the download on the computer.

ZIP files may be saved on the desktop. However, if the ZIP file was downloaded from a website, it is directly saved in the Downloads folder in the user directory or Documents folder.

Opening ZIP Files on Mac

Apple Macintosh computers specially the newer ones use Apple OS X operating system. The system has an application which is used in opening ZIP files on Mac. To open a standard ZIP file, the file opens automatically. However, if the ZIP file comes with a password, a simple command needs to be entered to open it. Apple’s native terminal emulator is the one being used in opening a ZIP file on Mac which is password protected.

The following steps are to be followed to open a ZIP file on Mac:

  1. Right click the ZIP file to open a pop-up menu. From the selection, click “Open With” followed by clicking “Archive Utility”. This decompresses the file.
  2. Double click the Zip file to open it. If the file contains multiple files, new folder will be created with the same filename as the ZIP file. If the ZIP file contains a single file and a file will be created with the same name.
  3. If a message appears that says the ZIP file has password protection, Apple’s Terminal Utility need to be used to open it.
  4. Click “Go” from the Finder menu. From the dropdown menu, click “Utilities” and then “Terminal”. This will activate the native terminal emulator.
  5. A prompt will come out where “cd” is typed. CD stands for change directory. After typing, drag the ZIP file folder into the terminal emulator window. Press the “Enter” key to finalize the change in terminal directory.
  6. Then another prompt will come out. Type “unzip” followed by a space. Drag the ZIP file again into the terminal window. This will copy the file name and the directory path into the terminal window. Then press “Enter” to finalize the command.
  7. A prompt asking for the password will come out. Type in the password. This will expand in the same folder where the ZIP file is contained. Finally the ZIP file can be viewed.

Opening ZIP files on Mac are this easy as long as the steps are followed. If problems with opening exist, there are online sources which can help solve the problem.