Reviews for Archive Utility
Login to ReviewRiley Moore
Mar 12, 2026A reliable and invisible tool that just works
As a longtime Mac user, I never think about Archive Utility until I need it, and that’s its biggest strength. It automatically handles ZIP, RAR, and 7Z files from emails or downloads without me having to open a separate app or remember how to use it. It’s completely seamless, integrates perfectly with Finder, and has never failed to extract an archive I’ve thrown at it.
Morgan Walker
Mar 11, 2026The Unsung Hero of macOS
It's been a total workhorse on my Mac for years. I love that it just works in the background for common formats and doesn't get in the way, but I wish it had a 'one-click' extract for nested archives.
River Taylor
Mar 11, 2026Effortless and Reliable Built-In Archiving
Archive Utility is the unsung hero of my daily workflow on macOS. It seamlessly handles every zip, rar, or 7z file I encounter without any fuss or extra downloads. It's so well-integrated that I often forget it's even there, which is the highest compliment I can give. For basic compression and extraction, it's absolutely perfect.
David Walker
Mar 08, 2026Seamless and Essential Built-in Tool
As a Mac user, Archive Utility is my go-to for handling compressed files—it just works without any fuss. I love that it automatically opens common formats like zip and rar when I double-click, saving me time on downloads and file sharing. It's incredibly reliable for basic compression and extraction tasks, though I occasionally wish it had more advanced options like password protection for zips.
Michael White
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 locations, makes it more of a hassle than a convenience.
David Anderson
Mar 07, 2026A Simple, Reliable Tool That’s Just There When You Need It
As a long-time Mac user, Archive Utility is one of those unsung heroes that just works. I never have to think about it—whether I'm opening a zip from a colleague or an RAR from the web, it handles everything seamlessly in the background. It's incredibly simple and saves me from hunting for a third-party app. The fact that it's built right into macOS and completely free makes it indispensable.
Liam Lee
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 and 7z archives, where it either fails silently or extracts with errors. For a free tool it's okay, but power users will quickly need to look elsewhere for reliability.
Emma Harris
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 in my Downloads folder with no option to choose where they go. It also frequently fails to open password-protected or multi-volume archives, forcing me to use third-party software anyway. For a built-in tool, it's frustratingly underpowered for anything beyond the simplest zips, making it feel like a first draft of a utility rather than a polished feature.
Olivia Harris
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 files. For something that comes pre-installed, it's borderline unusable for anything beyond the simplest tasks.
Quinn Johnson
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 I barely notice it's there until I need it, and then it performs flawlessly every time. For basic compression and extraction of common formats, it's all I'll ever need.
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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