What Is a GZ File and How Does Mac Handle It?
GZ files use the gzip compression algorithm, which was created as a free replacement for the Unix compress utility. Gzip compresses a single file (unlike ZIP, which archives multiple files). macOS Archive Utility can decompress .gz files by double clicking, removing the .gz extension to reveal the original file. UnFox offers the same functionality with added benefits: progress tracking for large files, better handling of corrupted gzip streams, and consistent behavior across all macOS versions.
How Do You Decompress a GZ File on Mac with UnFox?
Drag the .gz file onto UnFox or open it through the File menu. UnFox reads the gzip header, decompresses the data stream, and writes the output file to your chosen destination. For .tar.gz files, UnFox handles both the gzip decompression and TAR extraction automatically. For standalone .gz files, the output is a single decompressed file.
GZ is one of 36 formats UnFox supports, alongside BZ2, XZ, LZMA, ZSTD, LZ4, and their TAR compound variants. all supported compression formats for Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
UnFox installs from the Mac App Store and handles gzip decompression with progress tracking. download UnFox free for Mac from the App Store.