How to Open 7z Files on Mac

Short answer: 7z files can be opened and extracted on macOS with an archive utility such as ZipGood. ZipGood opens 7z archives, including AES-256 encrypted and split 7z volumes, and can also create new 7z archives.

The problem

macOS has no built-in support for 7z archives, so .7z files cannot be opened with the default tools.

How this problem shows up

  • Double-clicking a .7z file does not extract it
  • macOS Archive Utility cannot expand the archive
  • The 7z archive is split into .7z.001, .7z.002 and similar volumes
  • The archive is encrypted and prompts for a password

How to solve it

  1. Install an archive utility that supports 7z, such as ZipGood, from the Mac App Store
  2. Open the .7z file directly, or right-click it in the Finder and choose a ZipGood extract command
  3. For a split archive, open the .7z.001 volume — the remaining volumes are joined automatically
  4. For encrypted 7z archives, supply the password, or let ZipGood try your saved passwords first

How ZipGood solves this

Download on the Mac App Store

Frequently asked questions

How to Open 7z Files on Mac

7z files can be opened and extracted on macOS with an archive utility such as ZipGood. ZipGood opens 7z archives, including AES-256 encrypted and split 7z volumes, and can also create new 7z archives.

Does macOS solve this on its own?

macOS includes a basic archive tool that creates and opens ZIP files. It has no support for RAR or 7z, no encryption options, and no split-volume support, which is why a dedicated archive utility such as ZipGood is needed for these cases.

Is there a free way to do this on Mac?

The built-in macOS tools are free but limited. ZipGood is a one-time purchase on the Mac App Store, and can create archives in 14 output formats and extract 25+ formats, including RAR.

Related content

Guides

Common problems

Archive formats

7zZIPRAR

Sources

Product facts on this page were last verified on October 2, 2026.