howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-open-a-7z-file-on-a-mac/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Neo · macOS 27.0.1

In this guide

Check which app opens it
Double-click the 7z
Wait for it to expand
Open the folder
Check nothing is missing
If you do not see this option
If this does not work
Good to know
Sources

Quick answer

On our Mac with macOS 27.0.1, double-clicking a .7z file opened it in the built-in Archive Utility, which extracted the folder next to it. No extra app was needed. Keka opened it too.

5 of 5 steps with real screenshots · 2 official sources below

Device: Mac
Shown on: macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)
App: Archive Utility
Real screenshots: 5 of 5 steps
Checked: October 2026
Sources: 2 official, linked below

Step by step

Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size
Check which app opens it
Select the 7z and press Command + I. Ours said Open with: Archive Utility (default).
Done
Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size
Double-click the 7z
Ours was A3_keka.7z.
Done
Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size
Wait for it to expand
Archive Utility shows Expanding "A3_keka.7z" with a progress bar and Cancel.
Done
Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size
Open the folder
It lands next to the 7z. Ours, big, appeared next to the 7z.
Done
Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size
Check nothing is missing
Select the folder and press Command + I. Ours said 2.104.426.834 bytes (2,1 GB on disk) for 107 items.
Done

If you do not see this option

Prefer Keka? Right-click the 7z and choose Open With, Keka. Our screenshot shows Keka's Extracting "A3_keka.7z" window; it put big next to the file. Source: the macOS file archiver
Want to make a 7z? Archive Utility only opens them. We made ours with Keka, 7z picked. Our screenshot shows Keka asking where to save the first time, because it had no access to the folder. Source: the macOS file archiver
Got a split 7z or ZIP (.001)? Our screenshot shows Archive Utility failing on a split ZIP with Error 94. See open a split ZIP file on a Mac.

If this does not work

Archive Utility won't open it? Right-click the file and choose Open With, Keka or The Unarchiver. Both list 7z among the formats they open. Sources: the macOS file archiver, open any archive on Mac
Asked for a password? Type it and click OK. Our screenshot shows Archive Utility's password box. See open a password-protected ZIP file on a Mac.

About this guide

Our test 7z was a 2.09 GB archive of our own photos and videos, made with Keka. We also timed three runs per app, from opening to the folder size settling: Archive Utility 7.5 to 8.0 seconds, Keka 6.1 to 6.7, The Unarchiver 8.5 to 8.6.

The screenshots are from our MacBook Neo with macOS 27.0.1, Keka 1.6.8 and The Unarchiver 4.3.9, in Dark mode, taken on 25 October 2026, with test archives we made from our own photos and videos.