Apple Archive Utility

Software Overview

Apple Archive Utility is a macOS application that allows users to create and expand archives, such as .ZIP files. It is bundled with macOS and is the default tool macOS uses to handle archives.

Archive Utility can package users' files into Zip, CPIO, or CPGZ archives. It allows users to expand archives that use the Zip, CPIO, CPGZ, bzip2, cbz, tar, gz, LZMA (.7Z), jar, tgz, tbz, compress, and uuencode archive formats.

To create an archive using Archive Utility, users simply select all the files they want to package into an archive, right-click one of the files, and then select Compress. To expand an archive using Archive Utility, users simply double-click the archive. (In some cases, you may have to rename the archive to use the .zip extension or another supported extension.)

Advanced users can customize Archive Utility's archiving and expanding processes. The utility allows you to choose where to save expanded files, what to do with archives after expanding them, where to save archives, and what to do with archives after creating them. Users who want to customize Archive Utility's settings can find the app in the Macintosh HD/​System/​Library/​CoreServices/​Applications directory.

Summary

For most macOS users, Apple Archive Utility will be the only tool they need to create and expand archives. It is built into the macOS operating system, supports most popular archive formats, and even allows you to customize the archiving and expansion process.

Primary File Type

.ZIPZipped File

Supported File Types