Archive Utility
Archive Utility: Built-in File Compression and Decompression Tool
Archive Utility is a built-in file compression and decompression tool included with macOS. It supports common archive formats like zip, rar, 7z, tar, gzip, and bzip2.
What is Archive Utility?
Archive Utility is a file archiving application developed by Apple Inc. and included with macOS. It allows users to create, open, and extract common archive formats including zip, tar, gzip, bzip2, rar, and 7z.
Some key features of Archive Utility include:
- Intuitive graphical interface to easily compress or decompress files and folders
- Support for password-protected archives for added security
- Options to encrypt archives using AES-128 or AES-256 encryption
- Integration with Finder allowing archives to be created by right-clicking on files/folders
- Support for creating disk images from folders
- Options to customize compression levels for balance of size and speed
Overall, Archive Utility provides an easy way for macOS users to work with common archive formats without needing to install third-party software. Its integration into the operating system makes it a convenient option for basic compression and decompression tasks.
Archive Utility Features
Features
- Compress and uncompress zip, tar, gzip, bzip2, rar, 7z, and other archive formats
- Create encrypted disk images
- Open common archive formats directly without extracting
- Integrated into Finder for easy access
- Support for splitting large archives into volumes
Pricing
- Free
Pros
Cons
Official Links
Reviews & Ratings
Login to Review6 reviews
Rating Breakdown
Recent Reviews
mwhite9090
Mar 08, 2026Frustratingly basic and unreliable for a built-in tool
Archive Utility is the bare minimum macOS offers for compression, and it shows. It often fails to extract RAR and 7z files properly, leaving me to download third-party apps anyway. The lack of any interface or options, like choosing extraction …
liamweb931
Mar 07, 2026It Just Works... Until It Doesn't
As a built-in tool, Archive Utility is incredibly convenient for quickly zipping and unzipping files without thinking about it. The seamless integration with the Finder is fantastic for basic tasks. However, I've run into frustrating issues with password-protected RAR files …
emmadata729
Mar 04, 2026Free but Frustrating - A Bare-Bones Utility
As a longtime Mac user, I appreciate that Archive Utility comes pre-installed, but it feels incredibly basic and prone to issues. It silently and automatically unpacks archives in place without asking, often creating a messy folder of loose files right …
olivia_harris40
Mar 01, 2026Built-in but extremely basic
Archive Utility is frustratingly limited and unpredictable. It silently creates annoying .cpgz loops with password-protected zip files, making them impossible to open. The interface offers zero control over compression levels or archive destinations, and it often fails with multi-part RAR …
qjohnson5646
Feb 13, 2026Invisible but Indispensable
As a longtime Mac user, I appreciate how Archive Utility just works without needing any thought. When I download a .zip or receive a .rar file, it handles everything automatically in the background. It's so seamlessly integrated into Finder that …
Rating Distribution
The Best Archive Utility Alternatives
Top Os & Utilities and Compression and other similar apps like Archive Utility
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WinZip
Keka
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