https://github.com/sarensw/macpacker
Archive manager for macOS. Open source, because essential tools should be free. Preview (nested) archives without extracting them. Extract single files.
https://github.com/sarensw/macpacker
7zip archive archive-manager lha lz4 lzh lzx macos macos-app native nested previewer rar tar zip
Last synced: 3 days ago
JSON representation
Archive manager for macOS. Open source, because essential tools should be free. Preview (nested) archives without extracting them. Extract single files.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/sarensw/macpacker
- Owner: sarensw
- License: gpl-3.0
- Created: 2023-09-20T16:17:33.000Z (almost 3 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-06-30T06:28:08.000Z (8 days ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-07-01T14:04:28.806Z (6 days ago)
- Topics: 7zip, archive, archive-manager, lha, lz4, lzh, lzx, macos, macos-app, native, nested, previewer, rar, tar, zip
- Language: Swift
- Homepage: https://macpacker.app
- Size: 15.2 MB
- Stars: 463
- Watchers: 2
- Forks: 21
- Open Issues: 9
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Contributing: CONTRIBUTING.md
- Funding: .github/FUNDING.yml
- License: LICENSE
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README
MacPacker
The archive manager for macOS that should have existed all along.
Browse archives like folders, preview files without extracting, and drag out only the ones you need.
Website ·
Install ·
Formats ·
Docs ·
Support ·
Contribute
MacPacker is a free and open source archive manager for macOS. It opens 40+ archive, disk image, and compression formats, lets you peek inside without extracting, drills into nested archives, and hands you exactly the files you want via drag & drop. Open source, because essential tools should be free. Inspired by 7-Zip, but built natively for the Mac.
## Features
- **Peek inside** — Browse the full contents of any archive without extracting a single byte.
- **Nested archives** — Archives inside archives? Drill in seamlessly, with no intermediate extractions.
- **Selective extraction** — Drag out exactly the files you need. No more 2 GB extractions for one config file.
- **Edit & save** — Modify and re-save ZIP archives in place. Editing for more formats is on the way.
- **Quick Look** — Preview archive contents straight from Finder with the spacebar.
- **Finder integration** — Right-click any archive to extract here or to a folder, without opening the app.
- **Encrypted archives** — Open password-protected and encrypted archives.
- **Built for the keyboard** — Navigate archives with the same keys you use in Finder, with breadcrumbs and sortable columns.
- **Smart detection** — Recognizes formats by their magic number, not just the file extension.
- **Speaks your language** — Available in 13 languages.
## Supported Formats
MacPacker reads and extracts 40+ formats across archives, disk images, and compression containers. ZIP archives can also be edited and re-saved.
| Category | Formats |
| --- | --- |
| **Archives** | 7z · ar · arj · cab · chm · cpio · deb · exe · lha · lzh · lzx · msi · pkg · rar · rpm · sea · sit · sitx · tar · xar · zip · zipx |
| **Disk images** | dmg · fat · iso · ntfs · qcow2 · squashfs · vdi · vhd · vhdx · vmdk · wim |
| **Compression** | bz2 · gz · lz4 · xz · z |
| **Tarballs** | tar.gz (tgz) · tar.bz2 (tbz2) · tar.xz (txz) · tar.lz4 · tar.z (taz) |
See the [full format reference and per-format guides](https://macpacker.app/en/docs) on the website.
## Installation
**Requirements:** macOS 14.6 or later. (macOS 13 was supported through v0.14.1.)
Pick whichever you prefer — all builds are sandboxed, signed, and notarized by Apple.
| Method | How |
| --- | --- |
| **Homebrew** | `brew install --cask macpacker` |
| **Direct download** | Grab the `.dmg` or `.zip` from [macpacker.app](https://macpacker.app) or [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/sarensw/MacPacker/releases), then move the app to Applications. |
| **Mac App Store** | [Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macpacker/id6473273874) |
> [!NOTE]
> App Store releases land a few days after the GitHub and direct downloads, because every build goes through Apple's App Store review. For the newest version, use Homebrew or the direct download.
## Support the Project
MacPacker is free and built in the open. If it saves you time, here are a few ways to give back:
**Sponsor the work**
- [GitHub Sponsors](https://github.com/sponsors/sarensw)
- [Buy Me a Coffee](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sarensw)
**Free ways to help**
- ⭐ Star this repository.
- ✍️ Leave a review on the [Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macpacker/id6473273874).
- 🌍 [Help translate MacPacker](#translation) into your language.
- 🐞 [Report a bug](https://github.com/sarensw/MacPacker/issues) or suggest a feature.
**More apps by the maker**
MacPacker is built by [Stephan Arenswald](https://x.com/sarensw). If you like it, take a look at the other apps:
- **[TailBeat](https://tailbeat.app)** — A companion for macOS developers that improves logging and app release workflows.
- **[FileFillet](https://www.filefillet.com)** — Organize files quickly on macOS.
## Contributing
Contributions are welcome. Please read [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) first.
> [!IMPORTANT]
> Using AI to write code? Pull requests where AI is the primary author must follow the [AI Contribution Guidelines](AI_CONTRIBUTING.md): disclose AI involvement, open the PR from a human account, and include verification evidence (before/after screenshots for UI changes, terminal or test output otherwise). Minor AI-assisted edits where you're clearly the author don't need anything special.
### Translation
Translations are managed on POEditor. To improve an existing language or add a new one, sign up and start editing:
> https://poeditor.com/join/project/J2Qq2SUzYr
### Pull Requests
MacPacker is still in early development and a few breaking changes are ahead, so pull requests may need rework or some wait time before they can be merged. Opening an issue first to discuss larger changes is appreciated.
## Building from Source
**Prerequisites**
- macOS 14.6 or later
- Xcode 16 or later
**Steps**
1. **Clone the repository** (it uses submodules for vendored dependencies and test archives):
```bash
git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/sarensw/MacPacker.git
cd MacPacker
```
Already cloned without submodules? Run `git submodule update --init --recursive`.
2. **Open the project in Xcode:**
```bash
open MacPacker.xcodeproj
```
3. **Build and run** — click Run or press `Cmd + R`.
4. **Use your own signing team** (optional). If you have a different Apple Developer account, create a local override:
```bash
cp Config/SigningOverride.xcconfig.template Config/SigningOverride.xcconfig
```
Then edit `Config/SigningOverride.xcconfig` and set your Team ID (find it in Xcode under Settings → Accounts). This file is gitignored and never committed.
## Roadmap
- [x] Browse and navigate nested archives
- [x] Breadcrumb and Finder-style keyboard navigation
- [x] Extract selected files via drag & drop to any target
- [x] Extract the full archive at once
- [x] Preview files without extraction (via the system previewer)
- [x] Quick Look and Finder extensions for quick access
- [x] Open password-protected and encrypted archives
- [x] Wide format coverage (40+ formats)
- [x] Edit and re-save ZIP archives
- [ ] Delete files and folders inside archives (coming next)
- [ ] Create archives and edit more formats
## License
MacPacker is licensed under the [GNU General Public License v3.0](LICENSE).