Help with Zip Peek
Zip Peek is a macOS Quick Look extension that lets you inspect the contents of ZIP archives directly in Finder. Select a ZIP file, press Space, and browse the archive structure without extracting it.
What Zip Peek does
Zip Peek adds a Quick Look preview for ZIP files on macOS so you can inspect the archive tree right inside Finder.
Current behavior
The current version focuses on listing the archive contents and folder structure clearly and quickly.
Requirements
Zip Peek supports macOS 12 or later and works through Finder’s Quick Look system.
How to enable Zip Peek
- 1. Open the Zip Peek app.
- 2. Use the button in the app to open System Settings → Extensions → Quick Look.
- 3. Make sure the Zip Peek Quick Look extension is enabled.
- 4. In Finder, select a ZIP file and press Space to preview it.
Using Zip Peek
Preview a ZIP archive
Select a ZIP file in Finder and press Space to open Quick Look. Zip Peek will display the archive’s file and folder structure.
Browse folders quickly
Expand folders in the outline view to inspect nested content without extracting the archive.
Large archives
Some large or unusual ZIP files may take a moment to load, depending on archive complexity and system performance.
Troubleshooting
The preview does not appear
Confirm the Quick Look extension is enabled in System Settings. Then close and reopen the preview, or relaunch Finder if needed.
Finder still shows the default preview
Make sure you launched the Zip Peek app at least once after installation so macOS can register the extension correctly.
A ZIP file fails to load
The archive may be corrupted, password-protected, or use a ZIP structure that Quick Look cannot parse properly. Try opening a different ZIP file to compare behavior.
The app opens but seems minimal
That is expected. The main purpose of the app is to register and help you enable the Quick Look extension used by Finder.
Frequently asked questions
Does Zip Peek extract my files?
No. Zip Peek is designed to let you inspect archive contents in Quick Look without needing to fully extract the ZIP first.
Can I preview the contents of files inside the ZIP?
The current version focuses on showing the archive tree and file listing experience.
Which files are supported?
Zip Peek is built for standard ZIP archives viewed through Finder on macOS.
Contact
Need help, found a bug, or want to request a feature? Send an email and include your macOS version, the ZIP file behavior you expected, and what happened instead.