How to Extract PKG Files

By Julius Vandersteen

Use PKG files to install applications on your Mac.
i Jupiterimages, Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

Software developers sometimes use a PKG or package file to store the various files needed to install their application, and you might want to extract files that are stored inside of the PKG file. Typically a person double-clicks on a PKG file to install software on the Mac, but if you want to see exactly what is inside the PKG before clicking on it, use a third-party PKG extraction program to extract the files.

Pacifist

Launch your Web browser and navigate to the CharlesSoft website (charlessoft.com). Download the Pacifist application.

Double-click the Pacifist DMG disc image file to mount it on your Mac's desktop. Drag the Pacifist application onto the "Applications" folder in the Dock of your Mac.

Click "Applications" in the Dock, and then click "Pacifist" to launch the application. Click "Open Package." A dialog box appears.

Click the folder on your Mac containing the PKG file from which you want to extract files. Click the PKG file to select it, and then click "Open" to extract the files.

The Unarchiver

Launch your Web browser and navigate to the Unarchiver website (wakaba.c3.cx/s/apps/unarchiver.html). Download the zipped Unarchiver application to your Mac.

Double-click the Unarchiver zip file to expand it. Drag the Unarchiver application onto the "Applications" folder in the Dock of your Mac.

Click "Applications" in the Dock, and then click "The Unarchiver" to launch the application. Click "File" from the Unarchiver menu, and then click "Unarchive to Current Folder."

Click the folder on your computer containing the PKG file from which you want to extract files. Click the PKG file to select it, and then click "Unarchive" to extract the files.

Unpkg

Start your Web browser and navigate to the Tim Doug website's Unpkg page (timdoug.com/unpkg/).

Download the Unpkg application's compressed zip file. Double-click the zip file to decompress it. Drag the Unpkg application onto the "Applications" folder in the Dock of your Mac.

Click "Applications" in the Dock, and then click "Unpkg" to launch the application. The Unpkg window appears.

Drag a PKG file from a folder on your Mac into the Unpkg window to extract the files.

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