How to Open a Zip Archive on a Mac

A Mac computer's Utilities folder is located in the Applications folder.

The zip file format is a type of compression format that allows you to compress large files into a smaller size so that the files can be sent via email or more easily stored on a disc or other form of storage media. Zip archives can be single zip files or split zip files merged together to make one file. Mac OS X 10.3 and later versions have a built-in Archive Utility that decompresses, or opens, zip archive files.

Instructions

1. Hold the "Ctrl" key and click on the zip file that you want to open.

2. Move your mouse cursor over the "Open With" option in the context menu that appears.

3. Click the "Archive Utility" option to launch the Archive Utility and begin decompressing the zip file. Allow several seconds for the zip file to be decompressed.

4. Double-click the resulting decompressed file to view the zip file's contents.