Sep 28, 2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions
When Phil Katz invented the Zip file format over 30 years ago, it's highly arguable if he ever imagined his invention would see such profound and widespread use. Zipping files for Mac entails you take several files and compress them into a single file, all the while reducing the overall size of the resultant single file. How convenient is that?
Knowing how to Zip or Unzip files for Mac should thus be a prerequisite for you. If you don't know how to go about doing it, have a look below for an extensive lesson.
Part 1: What Is a Zip File on Mac
Zip is simply a data archive and compression format. Rar is very similar to the Zip but they are quite different too. For one, Zip files were invented long before Rar, meaning there are more software out there capable of opening and decompressing Zip files because it is a standard file format.
Along the same vein, compatibility is also a difference. Because the Zip format is older, both Windows and Mac come pre-installed with software that is capable of opening it. The same can't be said for the Rar format because it often requires third-party software to be opened. The Zip file format is a free and open-source, making it more popular. Thus, the majority of users have software that can open Zip files primarily. And when it comes to the archive creation process, its speed is relatively faster than that of the Rar format.
Those features are Unzip and Email as Zip File. If you click Unzip and if the Zip file is rather large, you will see a progress dialog. Using this method, your files and folders will be unzipped quickly and placed in a folder in the same location as the Zip file. Unzipping split Zip files. Starting with WinZip for Mac 2.0 you can open and unzip. Most files that you download from the Internet usually come in an archived format and have one of the formats used for archived and compressed files. Opening these ZIP, RAR, TAR, BIN, and EXE files on a Mac may seem impossible in the first try as your machine is just not compatible with these formats by default. Open the file that is having the issue on.zip or.cpgz file using The Unarchiver and let it decompress Unzip from the Command Line If the two methods from above don't work, a third option to unzip a cpgz file on Mac OS X El Capitan is to use the command line unzip tool. Generally this is used to break archives out of the.zip to.cpgz cycle. BetterUnarchiver is a professional zip file opener for Mac that lets you batch compress files and unzip (entirely or partially) archive files on Mac. It allows you to preview the contents inside zipped files and unzip only those files you really need, that's the function which makes BetterUnarchiver be the only unarchiving program you will.
Zip files are well and truly capable of saving over 80% or more of the space in your Mac's hard drive. Do you now see the marked difference between the two formats?
Part 2: How to Zip a File on Mac for Free
You might ask yourself if knowing how to create and open Zip files are really worth taking the time out to know. Well, ask yourself these questions too: Don't you want to reduce email-transmission time? And wouldn't it be great to save many emails despite your mailbox's space limit? What about the time it takes to upload or download files via the web?
Zipping a file on Mac gives you great solutions to these questions. It uses a native tool called 'Archive Utility' that does the job for you. There are several ways to the Zip file on Mac. Some are free but there are paid options too (third-party software). Only the free solutions will be given out to you today, though. You're welcome.
How to Zip a File on Mac
1. Open a Finder window, then locate the file or folder you want to zip.
2. Right-click on the said file or folder.
3. Select 'Compress' in the drop-down menu you see. The file is then Zipped while the original is left just the way it was.
How to Create Zip Files and Folder on Mac
1. Open a Finder window.
2. Make a folder for the file or files you want to Zip.
3. Highlight the newly-created folder.
4. Click on 'File' in the top menu bar. Free sims 3 for mac download.
5. In the drop-down menu that appears, click on 'Compress.' A zip file will be created in the same directory as the original folder.
How to Zip Files Using Mac Terminal
You can Zip your files in Mac's Terminal in different ways, but the simplest method will be outlined here for you.
1. Open up a Finder window.
2. Open up Terminal by typing in 'Terminal' at the search bar located on the top right part of your screen.
You can also launch Terminal from your Mac's 'Applications/Utilities' folder.
3. Either way, you will see the program. Click on it to launch it.
4. If the Zipped file is not located on your desktop, move it to the desktop (it's more convenient in this way).
5. Type this command in the Terminal and leave a space: zip
6. Drag and drop the file (s) to be Zipped into the Terminal's window.
7. Press 'Enter/Return'. The files will be compressed and Zipped into a single file.
How to Zip Files with Password on Mac
1. Choose the file you want to Zip and right-click on it (to make it easier, make sure the file is on your desktop).
2. Select 'Compress.'
3. Open up a Finder window.
4. Navigate to your Mac's 'Utilities.'
5. Find and click on 'Terminal' to launch it.
6. Type in these commands in the Terminal: zip -er archive_name target_folder
7. A popup window will appear, prompting you to enter a password (you will have to enter the password twice; the second time will be for verification). Type in the secure password and click on 'OK' or press 'Enter/Return.' Your Zipped files are now password-protected.
Part 3: How to Unzip and Open Files on Mac for Free
Knowing how to zip files on Mac is good and fine but sometimes, the files you want are already Zipped. This is especially true if you downloaded the files from the web.
The internet of yesterday is not the same as the internet of today. More and more of the files uploaded to websites come in Zipped formats to make downloads faster and easier. So, what happens when youdownload these files but don't know your way around opening them? Bummer. That is just one reason why knowing how to open zip files on your Mac is now a necessity. But just like Zipping files, Unzipping them is quite easy too. There are, of course, different ways you can do that. Here are a few:
How to Unzip files on Mac
Method 1 (Archive Utility):
1. Navigate to wherever the Zipped file is (your desktop, downloads, etc.)
2. Double-click on the file. Because 'Archive Utility' is integrated into your macOS, the Zipped file will automatically open up and dump the contents into a folder bearing its name; the folder will be in the same directory as the Zipped file too.
Method 2 (Archive Utility):
1. Move your cursor over to the Zipped file or files and select them.
2. Right-click on them.
3. Select 'Open.' The Zipped archive will be extracted into a folder that's in the same directory as the archive.
Method 3 (Terminal):
1. Open up a Finder window.
2. Launch Terminal by typing in 'Terminal' at the search bar on the top-right section of your Mac's screen. Click on it to launch it.
3. Type this command in the Terminal: unzip {the name of the Zipped file}.zip
4. If the Zipped file is not located on your desktop, move it to the desktop because it makes things easier and faster for you. This is not necessary but it is advised, or else you have to type in the directory of the Zipped file before typing in its name. Like so:
unzip ~/Downloads/example.zip
5. Press on 'Enter/Return'. The contents of the Zipped file or files will be Unzipped to the same directory as the Zipped file.
Method 4 (Terminal)
You can Unzip multiple files all at once into a single directory using Terminal.
1. Open up 'Spotlight.'
2. Type in 'Terminal' and then launch it.
3. Type the following commands in Terminal:
cd /Users/phil/Downloads/folder_with_zips
(The above command is to navigate to where your multiple Zipped files are. Input the right directory as proper. In the above example, the Zipped files are in 'Downloads').
unzip *.zip
(This is the command that will Unzip the multiple files)
4. Press 'Enter/Return.' All the files will be Unzipped simultaneously.
Part 4: How to Recover Deleted Zip Files on Mac
Try as you may, it's almost impossible for you to use your Mac without Zipping your files for one reason or another. Even if you don't download much from the internet, it can be quite tempting to want to Zip your files simply because you're well aware it will save your hard drive much-needed space.
Likewise, it will be nearly impossible for you to not delete your Zipped files; again, for several reasons. Maybe you didn't do it intentionally, or maybe you did, but then you realize you want the Zipped files back for one or various reasons.
Look no further than Recoverit Mac Data Recovery to be your one and only savior. It comes loaded with features that thoroughly scan your drive for deleted Zipped files and recovers them back to their exact state. And this is all achieved with a few simple steps:
Step 1: Choose a Location
- Open up Recoverit and choose the hard disk to be scanned. The disk should be where the deleted Zipped files had once been in. Click the 'Start' button.
Step 2: Scan the Location
- The scan will begin. After it's done, a window will display a preview of the deleted Zipped files. You can select and deselect filters during the scan to make your search quicker.
For instance, you can use 'File Type' or 'File Path' to alter your search and make judicious use of time. You can pause or stop the scan before it completes too; that's a feature that easily makes the operation even more convenient, wouldn't you agree?
Step 3: Preview & Recover Data
- A window will open up where you will see a preview of the deleted Zipped files to be recovered. Choose the files.
- Click on the 'Recover' button located below and to the right. Your Zipped files will be recovered.
- As a final note, you are advised to save the recovered ZIPPED files in a secondary location and not the one they were initially deleted from.
Isn't Recoverit Mac Data Recovery the most user-friendly software you've seen? The three steps are so simple even a child could do it: Choose a drive, scan it, preview your files, and recover them.
Part 5: How to Fix Zip File on Mac
There are those rare but alarming situations when your Zipped files get corrupted. This is an unavoidable flaw on computers. Fortunately, it's fixable.
As to why the Zipped file got corrupted in the first place, it's possible the files within the Zip were already damaged; or an error occurred while downloading the file from the web. Below are common errors plaquing Zip files.
Unable To Expand Zip File on Mac - This error is mostly caused by an unstable internet connection. If your network keeps going on and off while you're downloading a Zipped file, the end result could be a corrupted archive.
The problem could also stem from you, the user. You might have been too hasty in closing the web browser while the Zipped file was still downloading, consequently corrupting it.
Sometimes, even if you manage to completely download the Zipped file, don't be surprised to learn it's few megabytes short of the size it's supposed to be. Because of those missing megabytes, your entire Zipped file could be corrupted.
The Archive is Corrupted – Believe it or not, even exposing your Mac to magnetic fields or excessive temperatures and mechanical problems could also corrupt a Zipped file. Likewise, unzipping very large files can also corrupt them.
End-of-Central-Directory Signature Not Found – Here's another pervasive error. The probable reason you will see this error is because of the incomplete download of a Zipped file. Another possible reason is the file was one part of a multi-part archive, and the other components are missing.
All the same, the most important thing for you here is to know how to repair corrupted Zipped files, isn't it? These errors can be fixed via Terminal or any decompression utility software, which of course will be a third-party software:
Method 1 (Terminal):
1. Launch Terminal on your Mac.
2. Type this command in the Terminal: unzip ~/Downloads/example.zip
(Replace the 'Downloads' you see in the above example with the directory of your Zipped file. If it's in your Downloads folder too, then leave the command as it is.
Method 2 (Unarchiver):
1. Go to your Mac App Store, download Unarchiver, and install it.
2. Open it.
3. Drag your files into the square, blank space on the left side of the software.
4. Click on 'Decompress.' Your files will be extracted. This software can even succeed where Terminal fails.
Closing Words
By now, you should fully agree with the infinite Mac users out there and on how significant Zip files are. No more are they deemed less important than other software. Indeed, the majority of websites hosting files do so with the files being Zipped.
What's more, you don't have to worry about the state of your Zipped files and the multitude of important files you have within them because of what Recoverit Mac Data Recovery can do for you. This software can be something of an 'insurance' for your Zipped files. If anything befalls them, Recoverit will be there to help recover ZIP and RAR files.
What's Wrong with Mac
- Recover Your Mac
- Fix Your Mac
- Delete Your Mac
- Learn Mac Hacks
Compressing multiple files into a single one has been a major task we do with computers. For Windows users, we are familiar with ZIP or RAR. However, for Mac computer gz or tar.gz file is more popular based on the nature macOS was built on with Unix. a .gz file is the outcome of a compressed file made by Gzip utility, which only compresses one file. Instead, tar.gz file is a compressed file made up by serveral single files. That's the difference between .gz and tar.gz file.
By definition, therefore, you should be able to uncompress or unzip the file, and the command to be used for this purpose is 'gunzip'. On a Mac computer, you can use Terminal to run the gunzip command, but there are a few things to remember. You can also use a software utility for this purpose. Both methods are described in detail in the following sections.
Part 1. How to Unzip a Gz or Tar.gz File on Mac via Command Line
Terminal is Apple's equivalent of the Windows shell, which is also known as Command Prompt. Using Terminal, you can easily uncompress a gz file. Once it has been unzipped, the file name will be retained and the .gz extension will be removed. The contents of the file will be extracted to the same directory where the .gz file is. Let's see how to do this on a Mac:
Step 1. Open an instance of Terminal on your Mac by going to Applications >> Utilities and clicking on Terminal.
Step 2. In the Terminal window, use the 'cd' command to take you to the specific folder where your gz file is present. For example, if your file is in ~/xyz/Documents, then type this command followed by Enter: cd ~/xyz/documents
Step 3. Now run the following command in the command line of Terminal: gunzip filename.gz
You must be in the same directory as the .gz file, or this command will not work.
The above command will decompress the file and extract the contents into a folder with the same name as the .gz file. However, if there's a file with the same filename already in that folder, you'll get an overwrite prompt. For example, if you have a file called 'Conversation1.doc' in the folder and your .gz file is called 'Conversation1.doc.gz', then you will be prompted to accept or reject an overwrite of the existing file when you run the gunzip command. To automatically overwrite the original, you can force the decompression by using the '-f' switch, in which case your command will need to be as follows. However, you will lose the original file if you do this: gunzip -f filename.doc.gz
There are clearly several issues that you have to watch for. First, you need to make sure that the Terminal shell is running in the same directory as your .gz file. Second, you need to make sure that any file with a similar filename is either renamed or moved to another directory if you want to keep it. Third, if the file is a .tar.gz, then in addition to decompressing the file, you will need a separate archive extractor utility to extract the contents of the .tar file that you get after running the gunzip command. Fourth, if you want to retain a copy of the .gz file, then you need to use a different switch, which is '-k'.
If you are not tech-savvy or have doubts about being able to do such intensive command line work, then you can consider a special software utility for Mac that can do the job for you
Part 2 : How to Extract .gz/tar.gz File on Mac via TunesBro CleanGeeker
This software (TunesBro CleanGeeker) will help you avoid any command line work, and you can easily extract a gz file on your Mac with just a couple of clicks. The CleanGeeker software is essentially a Mac optimization utility that can help manage your Mac's memory resources by cleaning junk, duplicate and other unnecessary files. But it also has some very useful modules such as the Unarchiver (used here to extract gz files), Uninstaller for apps, Eraser for complete data deletion and many more.
In addition to being able to extract gz files, CleanGeeker can also extract other archive file types such as RAR, Zip, Tar, EML, Winmail.dat, Bzip2 and many more. Let's see how to extract a gz file using this versatile software.
Highlights of TunesBro CleanGeeker- Support multiple archive formats: gz, tar.gz, zip, rar, bzip, etc.
- Remove junk and temporary data from Mac.
- Batch close background apps to release more running memory.
- Uninstall malware or apps that could not be deleted.
Step 1Install and Open TunesBro CleanGeeker on Mac
Download the CleanGeeker DMG file from the official TunesBro website and install it on your Mac. Launch the application and go to the Unarchiver option under Utilities on the left-side panel.
Step 2Import GZ or Tar.GZ File into CleanGeeker
Import the archive file either by clicking on 'Open Archive' or dragging and dropping the gz file in the CleanGeeker window. The extraction process is automatically started, and in a few seconds you'll be able to see the contents of the file.
You can choose to save the contents in a different location or open the file. You can also email the content using an associated email client.
Comment:
The job is done in seconds and requires no additional input, which is why CleanGeeker is one of the most highly regarded Mac utilities. You also get a comprehensive Mac memory management suite when you download the software, which users find to be a big advantage. We recommend using CleanGeeker to extract gz files rather than using the command line method since it's safer, more convenient and more flexible.
5. In the drop-down menu that appears, click on 'Compress.' A zip file will be created in the same directory as the original folder.
How to Zip Files Using Mac Terminal
You can Zip your files in Mac's Terminal in different ways, but the simplest method will be outlined here for you.
1. Open up a Finder window.
2. Open up Terminal by typing in 'Terminal' at the search bar located on the top right part of your screen.
You can also launch Terminal from your Mac's 'Applications/Utilities' folder.
3. Either way, you will see the program. Click on it to launch it.
4. If the Zipped file is not located on your desktop, move it to the desktop (it's more convenient in this way).
5. Type this command in the Terminal and leave a space: zip
6. Drag and drop the file (s) to be Zipped into the Terminal's window.
7. Press 'Enter/Return'. The files will be compressed and Zipped into a single file.
How to Zip Files with Password on Mac
1. Choose the file you want to Zip and right-click on it (to make it easier, make sure the file is on your desktop).
2. Select 'Compress.'
3. Open up a Finder window.
4. Navigate to your Mac's 'Utilities.'
5. Find and click on 'Terminal' to launch it.
6. Type in these commands in the Terminal: zip -er archive_name target_folder
7. A popup window will appear, prompting you to enter a password (you will have to enter the password twice; the second time will be for verification). Type in the secure password and click on 'OK' or press 'Enter/Return.' Your Zipped files are now password-protected.
Part 3: How to Unzip and Open Files on Mac for Free
Knowing how to zip files on Mac is good and fine but sometimes, the files you want are already Zipped. This is especially true if you downloaded the files from the web.
The internet of yesterday is not the same as the internet of today. More and more of the files uploaded to websites come in Zipped formats to make downloads faster and easier. So, what happens when youdownload these files but don't know your way around opening them? Bummer. That is just one reason why knowing how to open zip files on your Mac is now a necessity. But just like Zipping files, Unzipping them is quite easy too. There are, of course, different ways you can do that. Here are a few:
How to Unzip files on Mac
Method 1 (Archive Utility):
1. Navigate to wherever the Zipped file is (your desktop, downloads, etc.)
2. Double-click on the file. Because 'Archive Utility' is integrated into your macOS, the Zipped file will automatically open up and dump the contents into a folder bearing its name; the folder will be in the same directory as the Zipped file too.
Method 2 (Archive Utility):
1. Move your cursor over to the Zipped file or files and select them.
2. Right-click on them.
3. Select 'Open.' The Zipped archive will be extracted into a folder that's in the same directory as the archive.
Method 3 (Terminal):
1. Open up a Finder window.
2. Launch Terminal by typing in 'Terminal' at the search bar on the top-right section of your Mac's screen. Click on it to launch it.
3. Type this command in the Terminal: unzip {the name of the Zipped file}.zip
4. If the Zipped file is not located on your desktop, move it to the desktop because it makes things easier and faster for you. This is not necessary but it is advised, or else you have to type in the directory of the Zipped file before typing in its name. Like so:
unzip ~/Downloads/example.zip
5. Press on 'Enter/Return'. The contents of the Zipped file or files will be Unzipped to the same directory as the Zipped file.
Method 4 (Terminal)
You can Unzip multiple files all at once into a single directory using Terminal.
1. Open up 'Spotlight.'
2. Type in 'Terminal' and then launch it.
3. Type the following commands in Terminal:
cd /Users/phil/Downloads/folder_with_zips
(The above command is to navigate to where your multiple Zipped files are. Input the right directory as proper. In the above example, the Zipped files are in 'Downloads').
unzip *.zip
(This is the command that will Unzip the multiple files)
4. Press 'Enter/Return.' All the files will be Unzipped simultaneously.
Part 4: How to Recover Deleted Zip Files on Mac
Try as you may, it's almost impossible for you to use your Mac without Zipping your files for one reason or another. Even if you don't download much from the internet, it can be quite tempting to want to Zip your files simply because you're well aware it will save your hard drive much-needed space.
Likewise, it will be nearly impossible for you to not delete your Zipped files; again, for several reasons. Maybe you didn't do it intentionally, or maybe you did, but then you realize you want the Zipped files back for one or various reasons.
Look no further than Recoverit Mac Data Recovery to be your one and only savior. It comes loaded with features that thoroughly scan your drive for deleted Zipped files and recovers them back to their exact state. And this is all achieved with a few simple steps:
Step 1: Choose a Location
- Open up Recoverit and choose the hard disk to be scanned. The disk should be where the deleted Zipped files had once been in. Click the 'Start' button.
Step 2: Scan the Location
- The scan will begin. After it's done, a window will display a preview of the deleted Zipped files. You can select and deselect filters during the scan to make your search quicker.
For instance, you can use 'File Type' or 'File Path' to alter your search and make judicious use of time. You can pause or stop the scan before it completes too; that's a feature that easily makes the operation even more convenient, wouldn't you agree?
Step 3: Preview & Recover Data
- A window will open up where you will see a preview of the deleted Zipped files to be recovered. Choose the files.
- Click on the 'Recover' button located below and to the right. Your Zipped files will be recovered.
- As a final note, you are advised to save the recovered ZIPPED files in a secondary location and not the one they were initially deleted from.
Isn't Recoverit Mac Data Recovery the most user-friendly software you've seen? The three steps are so simple even a child could do it: Choose a drive, scan it, preview your files, and recover them.
Part 5: How to Fix Zip File on Mac
There are those rare but alarming situations when your Zipped files get corrupted. This is an unavoidable flaw on computers. Fortunately, it's fixable.
As to why the Zipped file got corrupted in the first place, it's possible the files within the Zip were already damaged; or an error occurred while downloading the file from the web. Below are common errors plaquing Zip files.
Unable To Expand Zip File on Mac - This error is mostly caused by an unstable internet connection. If your network keeps going on and off while you're downloading a Zipped file, the end result could be a corrupted archive.
The problem could also stem from you, the user. You might have been too hasty in closing the web browser while the Zipped file was still downloading, consequently corrupting it.
Sometimes, even if you manage to completely download the Zipped file, don't be surprised to learn it's few megabytes short of the size it's supposed to be. Because of those missing megabytes, your entire Zipped file could be corrupted.
The Archive is Corrupted – Believe it or not, even exposing your Mac to magnetic fields or excessive temperatures and mechanical problems could also corrupt a Zipped file. Likewise, unzipping very large files can also corrupt them.
End-of-Central-Directory Signature Not Found – Here's another pervasive error. The probable reason you will see this error is because of the incomplete download of a Zipped file. Another possible reason is the file was one part of a multi-part archive, and the other components are missing.
All the same, the most important thing for you here is to know how to repair corrupted Zipped files, isn't it? These errors can be fixed via Terminal or any decompression utility software, which of course will be a third-party software:
Method 1 (Terminal):
1. Launch Terminal on your Mac.
2. Type this command in the Terminal: unzip ~/Downloads/example.zip
(Replace the 'Downloads' you see in the above example with the directory of your Zipped file. If it's in your Downloads folder too, then leave the command as it is.
Method 2 (Unarchiver):
1. Go to your Mac App Store, download Unarchiver, and install it.
2. Open it.
3. Drag your files into the square, blank space on the left side of the software.
4. Click on 'Decompress.' Your files will be extracted. This software can even succeed where Terminal fails.
Closing Words
By now, you should fully agree with the infinite Mac users out there and on how significant Zip files are. No more are they deemed less important than other software. Indeed, the majority of websites hosting files do so with the files being Zipped.
What's more, you don't have to worry about the state of your Zipped files and the multitude of important files you have within them because of what Recoverit Mac Data Recovery can do for you. This software can be something of an 'insurance' for your Zipped files. If anything befalls them, Recoverit will be there to help recover ZIP and RAR files.
What's Wrong with Mac
- Recover Your Mac
- Fix Your Mac
- Delete Your Mac
- Learn Mac Hacks
Compressing multiple files into a single one has been a major task we do with computers. For Windows users, we are familiar with ZIP or RAR. However, for Mac computer gz or tar.gz file is more popular based on the nature macOS was built on with Unix. a .gz file is the outcome of a compressed file made by Gzip utility, which only compresses one file. Instead, tar.gz file is a compressed file made up by serveral single files. That's the difference between .gz and tar.gz file.
By definition, therefore, you should be able to uncompress or unzip the file, and the command to be used for this purpose is 'gunzip'. On a Mac computer, you can use Terminal to run the gunzip command, but there are a few things to remember. You can also use a software utility for this purpose. Both methods are described in detail in the following sections.
Part 1. How to Unzip a Gz or Tar.gz File on Mac via Command Line
Terminal is Apple's equivalent of the Windows shell, which is also known as Command Prompt. Using Terminal, you can easily uncompress a gz file. Once it has been unzipped, the file name will be retained and the .gz extension will be removed. The contents of the file will be extracted to the same directory where the .gz file is. Let's see how to do this on a Mac:
Step 1. Open an instance of Terminal on your Mac by going to Applications >> Utilities and clicking on Terminal.
Step 2. In the Terminal window, use the 'cd' command to take you to the specific folder where your gz file is present. For example, if your file is in ~/xyz/Documents, then type this command followed by Enter: cd ~/xyz/documents
Step 3. Now run the following command in the command line of Terminal: gunzip filename.gz
You must be in the same directory as the .gz file, or this command will not work.
The above command will decompress the file and extract the contents into a folder with the same name as the .gz file. However, if there's a file with the same filename already in that folder, you'll get an overwrite prompt. For example, if you have a file called 'Conversation1.doc' in the folder and your .gz file is called 'Conversation1.doc.gz', then you will be prompted to accept or reject an overwrite of the existing file when you run the gunzip command. To automatically overwrite the original, you can force the decompression by using the '-f' switch, in which case your command will need to be as follows. However, you will lose the original file if you do this: gunzip -f filename.doc.gz
There are clearly several issues that you have to watch for. First, you need to make sure that the Terminal shell is running in the same directory as your .gz file. Second, you need to make sure that any file with a similar filename is either renamed or moved to another directory if you want to keep it. Third, if the file is a .tar.gz, then in addition to decompressing the file, you will need a separate archive extractor utility to extract the contents of the .tar file that you get after running the gunzip command. Fourth, if you want to retain a copy of the .gz file, then you need to use a different switch, which is '-k'.
If you are not tech-savvy or have doubts about being able to do such intensive command line work, then you can consider a special software utility for Mac that can do the job for you
Part 2 : How to Extract .gz/tar.gz File on Mac via TunesBro CleanGeeker
This software (TunesBro CleanGeeker) will help you avoid any command line work, and you can easily extract a gz file on your Mac with just a couple of clicks. The CleanGeeker software is essentially a Mac optimization utility that can help manage your Mac's memory resources by cleaning junk, duplicate and other unnecessary files. But it also has some very useful modules such as the Unarchiver (used here to extract gz files), Uninstaller for apps, Eraser for complete data deletion and many more.
In addition to being able to extract gz files, CleanGeeker can also extract other archive file types such as RAR, Zip, Tar, EML, Winmail.dat, Bzip2 and many more. Let's see how to extract a gz file using this versatile software.
Highlights of TunesBro CleanGeeker- Support multiple archive formats: gz, tar.gz, zip, rar, bzip, etc.
- Remove junk and temporary data from Mac.
- Batch close background apps to release more running memory.
- Uninstall malware or apps that could not be deleted.
Step 1Install and Open TunesBro CleanGeeker on Mac
Download the CleanGeeker DMG file from the official TunesBro website and install it on your Mac. Launch the application and go to the Unarchiver option under Utilities on the left-side panel.
Step 2Import GZ or Tar.GZ File into CleanGeeker
Import the archive file either by clicking on 'Open Archive' or dragging and dropping the gz file in the CleanGeeker window. The extraction process is automatically started, and in a few seconds you'll be able to see the contents of the file.
You can choose to save the contents in a different location or open the file. You can also email the content using an associated email client.
Comment:
The job is done in seconds and requires no additional input, which is why CleanGeeker is one of the most highly regarded Mac utilities. You also get a comprehensive Mac memory management suite when you download the software, which users find to be a big advantage. We recommend using CleanGeeker to extract gz files rather than using the command line method since it's safer, more convenient and more flexible.
How To Unzip Mac File
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