How to set a default app to archive files on macOS

In this article, we shall learn How to set a default app to archive files on macOS. To set a default app to archive files on macOS, such as for handling ZIP, TAR, or other compressed formats. You can modify the file association so that a specific app always opens those types of files. Please see How to Install and Upgrade Docker Engine From Binaries, how to Mount an ISO image in Windows 10 and 11, and How to locate and edit the host file on macOS.

Note: The default app in macOS is usually Archive Utility. But you can change this to third-party apps like The Unarchiver or Keka.

Also, see How to locate and edit the host file on macOS, and “Manage a GitLab Project: How to archive or unarchive and delete GitLab projects.

Configure Mac default App to archive files

Below is a file I would like to unzip automatically whenever I double click on it. To achieve this, follow the steps below.

Right-click on the zipped file “PSWindowsUpdate.zip” and click on “Open with”

Set a default app to archive files on macOS

But in my case, I currently have used this previously and because of this I had it already.

In this case, simply select the below. The “Archive Utility (default)

But if the above scenario is not similar to your and that you wish to select from the list of applications, perform the steps below.

Select others and from the list of applications, and select the “Archive Utility (default)

If you are unable to see the application in the list of applications, you can use the search bar as shown below.

And finally, remember to click on “Always Open With” as shown above.

I hope you found this article on how to set a default app to archive files on macOS very useful. Please feel free to leave a comment below.