For Mac Users Only: How to Unzip a File (Fixing Mac Error 1 – Operation Not Permitted)

We love our Macs. But occasionally a funky bug pops up. Fortunately, there’s usually a helpful explanation online that shows you a good work-around.

This video demos how to get past the “Error 1 – Operation Not Permitted” error that occurs when trying to unzip a zip file created at TourVista.com.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6–dQQ9U1fs

The solution is to use Terminal, a built-in program on the Mac.

  1. Open Terminal.  You can use the Mac search at the top right and start typing Terminal.  It will appear, click on it to open the program.
  2. Type “unzip” and a space, then drag/drop the zip file into the Terminal window.
  3. Press Enter and the zip file will be unzipped, storing all files on your computer.

Your unzipped files will go to your user account folder which you can easily access using Finder.

12 thoughts on “For Mac Users Only: How to Unzip a File (Fixing Mac Error 1 – Operation Not Permitted)

  1. Nope… aint’ working no matter where the file is located and doesn’t matter if running straight unzip or sudo unzip

  2. Actually did figure that out in the end… that happens when the zip archive is pass-protected and the default utility doesn’t pop out the option to enter a password as programs like BetterZip and other do. So the whole problem got solved when I didn’t just double-clicked the archive but when I opened it with a program that supported pass-protected archives.
    Of course if you forgot the pass of an archive you pass protected in the past (when sent to someone or for own safe keeping) then you are pretty much screwed since there aren’t easy ways to recover that archive’s password

    Cheers! 🙂

  3. Hi is there anyway to alter the path in terminal so it unzips to an external hard drive as i have just deleted stuff from my system hard drive and it is taking it’s time to update in real time for the space to become available.

    Thanks

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