Reviews for Archive Utility
Login to ReviewCasey Thomas
Apr 07, 2026Frustratingly Basic and Unreliable
Archive Utility is supposed to be a convenient built-in tool, but it's incredibly frustrating. It often fails silently on password-protected RAR files or complex 7z archives, forcing me to search for a third-party app anyway. For a core utility, it lacks basic features like choosing where to extract files or even a progress bar for larger archives.
Liam Lopez
Mar 30, 2026The Mac's invisible workhorse
It just works. I forget it's even there until I need to open a zip or rar file, then it pops up seamlessly. It handles all the common formats I encounter, and being built-in means no extra downloads or clutter. It's the perfect example of Apple's 'it just works' philosophy in a utility.
Liam Harris
Mar 30, 2026Does the job, but could be so much better
It's incredibly convenient that this tool comes built right into macOS, and it handles basic zips and most common formats without any fuss. However, I've run into issues with password-protected archives and some RAR files, forcing me to download a third-party app anyway. It's also frustrating that you can't choose where to extract files or adjust compression settings—it just does its own thing.
Michael Davis
Mar 29, 2026Silent Workhorse in the macOS Toolbox
Archive Utility is one of those macOS features you don't appreciate until you need it. It handles all my basic compression needs—from opening downloaded zip files to creating archives for email attachments—completely invisibly and without any fuss. I never have to think about it, which is the highest praise I can give any utility. It just works, every single time.
Finley Wilson
Mar 25, 2026Seamlessly Handles All My Archives
As a Mac user, Archive Utility is my go-to for quickly compressing files to send via email and unpacking downloads. It works invisibly in the background for common formats like ZIP and RAR, which covers 95% of my needs. Having it built right into the Finder is incredibly convenient—I never have to think about it.
Oliver Davis
Mar 23, 2026Frustratingly basic and unreliable
Archive Utility feels like a relic from a decade ago. It constantly fails with password-protected RAR files and offers zero customization options for compression levels or archive splitting. For a built-in tool, it's shockingly limited and makes me install third-party alternatives for anything beyond basic ZIP files.
Phoenix Harris
Mar 23, 2026Handy but frustratingly basic
It's incredibly convenient that Archive Utility is built right into my Mac and just works for most everyday zipping and unzipping. However, I constantly get frustrated by its lack of options; I can't set a password for a zip or choose where to extract files without dragging. For anything beyond the simplest tasks, I end up needing to download a third-party app.
Emma Wilson
Mar 23, 2026Convenient but limited for basic archiving needs
As a built-in tool, Archive Utility couldn't be easier to use for simple zip files—just double-click and it's done. However, I've run into issues with multi-part RAR archives and password-protected 7z files it couldn't handle, which forced me to download third-party software. It's reliable for everyday zipping and unzipping, but power users will find it lacking.
Morgan Martin
Mar 21, 2026Silently Efficient and Always There
For years, Archive Utility has been my go-to for zipping files to email and unpacking downloads. It just works in the background without any fuss, supporting all the common formats I encounter. It's so seamlessly integrated that I often forget it's even a separate tool, which is the highest compliment I can give. I never have to think about installing a third-party app for basic archive tasks.
Morgan Martin
Mar 21, 2026Does Exactly What I Need Without Any Fuss
Archive Utility has been my go-to tool for years because it just works. Whenever I download compressed files or need to zip something to send, it handles everything in the background without me having to think about it. The fact that it supports so many formats like RAR and 7z makes it genuinely useful, and being built right into macOS means there's no extra software to install or maintain.
Review Summary
Based on 31 reviews
Rating Distribution
Archive Utility
Archive Utility is a built-in file compression and decompression tool included with macOS. It supports common archive formats like zip, …
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