Since macOS is based on Unix there are a number of ways to compress files and folders within the filing system using Unix based application code, below are a few options using the Terminal or command line interface (cli). The default command line application interface in macOS is the Terminal and is stored in /Applications/Utilities.
This will forcefully compress a file named myfile.txt even if there already exists a file named as myfile.txt.gz-k option:By default when you compress a file using the 'gzip' command you end up with a new file with the extension '.gz'.If you want to compress the file and keep the original file you have to run the gzip command with -k. WinZip – Best Zip Program. WinZip needs no introduction as it is one of the most popular file. Step 4: The tar command works with.tar.gz and.tar.bz2 files, but if you have a.tar file, use the following command instead: tar xopf foo.tar. Both Windows and Mac have the default tools required to extract TAR GZ files but, as you can see, most of them require a little hands-on experience in Command Prompt or Terminal. GZ (GZIP, GNU ZIP) uses the same file compression algorithm as regular ZIP. So if you want to save space, compress files on Mac and feel free to delete files.
File and folder compression saves on file size and ensures the contents are captured and delivered or stored as one monolithic file. A compressed file which contains files and folders is generally referred to as an archive. Here are some built-in compression applications you can use including zip, tar, gz, bz2, gz and dmg.
ZIP – Cross Platform
First up is ZIP one of the most commonly used compression techniques used across all platforms
To compress
To extract
If you want to make a zip without those invisible Mac resource files such as '_MACOSX' or '._Filename' and .ds store files, use the '-X' option in the command so:
TAR.GZ – Cross Platform
Second up is TAR, an old favorite on Unix/Linux – you add the GZ for the compression – compresses tighter than zip
To compress
To extract
TAR.BZ2 – Cross Platform
A variation on TAR GZ but with better compression than both tar.gz and zip.
To compress
To extract
GZ
Without the tar
To extract
DMG – macOS Only
This one is macOSnative only – for a GUI interface use /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility – for command line use:
To create
To mount
To view
To Eject
You can also use a number of different formats for creating a .dmg
- UDZO – Compressed image (default)
- UDRO – Read-only image
- UDBZ – Better compressed image
- UDRW – Read/Write image
- UDTO – DVD disk image
That's the low down, the more common compression packages available will typically be covered in one of the above.
Download WinZip to open your GZIP file now.
To Extract your GZIP file
What is a GZIP file extension?
Compress To Gz Macro
GNU Zip files have GZIP extension. It's a UNIX based open source compression/decompression format which was created as part of a bigger project to develop a compression/decompression utility alternative for UNIX in the 1980s. Still popular among UNIX/LINUX users, GZIP doesn't support archiving multiple files but you can always compress a pre-archived single file in GZIP format. Just follow the steps below to decompress GZIP files with WinZip.
How to open GZIP files
- Download and save the GZIP file to your computer. If your compressed file was downloaded from the internet, it may be saved in the Downloads folder in your Documents or user directory.
- Launch WinZip and open the compressed file by clicking File > Open. If your system has the compressed file extension associated with WinZip program, just double-click on the file.
- Select all of the files in the compressed folder or select only the files you want to extract by holding the CTRL key and left-clicking on them.
- Click 1-click Unzip and choose Unzip to PC or Cloud in the WinZip toolbar under the Unzip/Share tab.
- Select a destination folder to place the extracted GZIP files in and click the 'Unzip' button.
- Find your extracted files in your chosen destination folder.
Unzip GZIP file format on Windows or Mac
- WinZip
- Windows 10
- Windows 8
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP
- Internet Explorer 8 or later
If you want to make a zip without those invisible Mac resource files such as '_MACOSX' or '._Filename' and .ds store files, use the '-X' option in the command so:
TAR.GZ – Cross Platform
Second up is TAR, an old favorite on Unix/Linux – you add the GZ for the compression – compresses tighter than zip
To compress
To extract
TAR.BZ2 – Cross Platform
A variation on TAR GZ but with better compression than both tar.gz and zip.
To compress
To extract
GZ
Without the tar
To extract
DMG – macOS Only
This one is macOSnative only – for a GUI interface use /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility – for command line use:
To create
To mount
To view
To Eject
You can also use a number of different formats for creating a .dmg
- UDZO – Compressed image (default)
- UDRO – Read-only image
- UDBZ – Better compressed image
- UDRW – Read/Write image
- UDTO – DVD disk image
That's the low down, the more common compression packages available will typically be covered in one of the above.
Download WinZip to open your GZIP file now.
To Extract your GZIP file
What is a GZIP file extension?
Compress To Gz Macro
GNU Zip files have GZIP extension. It's a UNIX based open source compression/decompression format which was created as part of a bigger project to develop a compression/decompression utility alternative for UNIX in the 1980s. Still popular among UNIX/LINUX users, GZIP doesn't support archiving multiple files but you can always compress a pre-archived single file in GZIP format. Just follow the steps below to decompress GZIP files with WinZip.
How to open GZIP files
- Download and save the GZIP file to your computer. If your compressed file was downloaded from the internet, it may be saved in the Downloads folder in your Documents or user directory.
- Launch WinZip and open the compressed file by clicking File > Open. If your system has the compressed file extension associated with WinZip program, just double-click on the file.
- Select all of the files in the compressed folder or select only the files you want to extract by holding the CTRL key and left-clicking on them.
- Click 1-click Unzip and choose Unzip to PC or Cloud in the WinZip toolbar under the Unzip/Share tab.
- Select a destination folder to place the extracted GZIP files in and click the 'Unzip' button.
- Find your extracted files in your chosen destination folder.
Unzip GZIP file format on Windows or Mac
- WinZip
- Windows 10
- Windows 8
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP
- Internet Explorer 8 or later
- WinZip Mac
- Mac OS X 10.8, 10.9, or 10.10
- Intel 64-bit processor
- Supports Apple Retina Displays
WinZip opens and extracts Compressed GZIP Files—and many more formats
We created WinZip to open and extract GZIP file format, and many more, including all of the following:
- RAR
- 7Z
- LHA and LZH
- ISO and IMG
- GZ, TAZ, and TGZ
- TZ and Z
- UUencoded
- XXencoded
- MIME
Mac Tar Gz
- BinHex
- Zipx
- And Zip
Compress To Gz Mac High Sierra
Get WinZip now to open your GZIP file(s) then enjoy all that the world's most popular compression utility has to offer, including the easiest and most practical file compression, file protection and encryption, complete file management and data backup capabilities, simple file sharing by cloud, social media, and more.
