Home > Questions

Why Zipping files on Mac doesn't reduce file size?

I've been meaning to ask this for a while now: while zipping a file on a Mac, I see absolutely no difference in file size as opposed to doing the same on a PC with WinRAR. Am I missing something? Must be settings somewhere? Thanks!

Best Answered by

iBoysoft author Jenny Zeng

Jenny Zeng

Answered on Wednesday, November 26, 2025

The amount of size that can be reduced with the ZIP format depends on how compressed the files already are.

You're unlikely to get any significant reduction with files that are already highly compressed. For instance, if you zip a JPEG image file, an MP3 audio, or an MPEG video file, you won't save much space. However, if you're trying to compress a WAV file on Mac, you may find about 50% size reduction.

WinRAR uses a completely different compression algorithm than Archive Utility on your Mac and apparently, it does a better job compressing your files. If I were in your shoes, I'd try a different file compressor to zip files on your Mac and see if it makes a difference.

iBoysoft MagicMenu may be a good fit. It works similarly to the built-in compression but allows you to select different compression levels and protect the compressed file with a password. You can get it from the button below and choose the highest compression level to ensure maximum size reduction.

People Also Ask

Read More Questions

Read More Advice From iBoysoft's Computer Experts

solve SD card write protected

8 Ways to Remove Write Protection From SD Card [Best Fixes]

Guide on how to remove write protection from SD card or Micro SD card. Then you can modify data or format the write-protected SanDisk, Samsung, or Transcend SD card.

icloud backup

iCloud Backup: A Feature for iPhone and iPad to Back Up

This post is an introduction to the iCloud Backup function on iPhone and iPad, including what the iCloud Backup is, how to back up iPhone/iPad with iCloud, how to restore from iCloud Backup, etc.