MetalArchiver

MetalArchiver / In Action

Using MetalArchiver

Watch MetalArchiver handle large archives, edit ZIP files, and restore items from the archive trash.

01

Getting started

In this demonstration, MetalArchiver compresses 53 real-file items totaling 1.33 GB into a ZIP in approximately 600 ms. Follow the basic workflow from start to finish.

  1. Drag files or folders onto Add Items on the right. This demonstration groups seven data sets.
  2. Choose the ZIP name and destination on the left, then click Create.
  3. The completed ZIP opens as a file list. Check the original and compressed sizes in the sidebar.
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02 / Performance

Fast with large data. Fast with encryption.

Compress approximately 58.43 GB in about 21 seconds. Watch standard and AES-256 encrypted ZIPs being created.

Standard ZIP / AES-256
Compression time21 sec
Compression speed2.8 GB/s
After compression: Standard ZIP 30.15 GB / AES-256 30.16 GBApproximately 48.4% smaller than the original 58.43 GBNearly the same compression speed and size with encryption.

Standard ZIPFreePro

Creating standard ZIPs is available in Free and Pro.

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Steps
  1. Add the approximately 58.43 GB virtual machine folder, sample-vm.pvm.
  2. Choose the ZIP destination and click Create. Follow progress at the bottom of the window.
  3. When creation finishes, the ZIP contents appear. In this recording, the archive is 30.15 GB—approximately 48.4% smaller than the original data.

AES-256 ZIPPro

Creating AES-256 encrypted ZIPs is a Pro feature.

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Steps
  1. Add the same approximately 58.43 GB sample-vm.pvm used in the standard ZIP recording.
  2. Select Encrypt with AES-256 in the sidebar and enter and confirm a password. The strength indicator helps you check it.
  3. Click Create to produce the encrypted ZIP. Progress appears at the bottom.
  4. After completion, confirm the AES-256 encryption information. The resulting 30.16 GB archive is approximately 48.4% smaller than the original data.

Measured on an Apple M4 Max. Processing time depends on the data, Mac, and storage. These are separately recorded demonstrations. The approximately 21 seconds and 2.8 GB/s shown here come from these videos, not the separate runs on the benchmarks page.

View benchmarks and test conditions ↗

03 / Encryption conversion

Switch encryption without extracting.

Convert an approximately 30.16 GB compressed archive directly between standard ZIP and AES-256 ZIP. There is no need to extract and recompress it.

Approximately 30 GB compressed ZIP
Add AES encryption16 sec
Remove AES encryption15 sec
Approximately 2.1–2.19 GB/s in the videosConverted within the same SSD

Standard ZIP → AES-256Pro

Convert a standard ZIP without a password directly into an AES-256 encrypted ZIP, without extracting its contents. Adding encryption is a Pro feature.

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Steps
  1. Open the approximately 30.16 GB standard ZIP. Its original data size is approximately 58.43 GB.
  2. Enter and confirm a password in the encryption panel, then click Encryption.
  3. MetalArchiver converts it directly into an AES-256 ZIP without extracting the files. The recording shows approximately 2.1 GB/s.

AES-256 → Standard ZIPFreePro

Remove AES-256 encryption from a ZIP without extracting its contents. Removing encryption is available in Free.

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Steps
  1. Open the approximately 30.16 GB AES-256 encrypted ZIP and authenticate with its password.
  2. Click Remove Encryption in the encryption panel.
  3. MetalArchiver converts it directly into a standard ZIP without extracting the files. The recording shows approximately 2.19 GB/s.

Measured on an Apple M4 Max with input and output on the same SSD. Displayed speed varies with storage I/O, free space, temperature, and archive contents.

04

Edit a ZIPPro

Edit and organize files without closing the ZIP. The demonstration uses familiar keyboard controls similar to Finder. ZIP editing is a Pro feature.

  1. Drag an existing ZIP onto the left side to open it, then open a folder to browse its files.
  2. Select an item, edit its name, and confirm the change. The recording renames several files.
  3. Type in Search in ZIP at the upper right to find matching items inside the archive.
  4. You can also select and rename an item from the search results. Clear the search to return to the updated list.
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05

Use the archive trashPro

Move unwanted items to the archive trash and restore them when needed. Optimizing the ZIP permanently removes the items in its trash. The archive trash is a Pro feature.

  1. Open a ZIP, select unwanted files, and click Delete. You can select multiple items at once.
  2. Open ZIP Trash in the toolbar to see the removed items and their original locations.
  3. Select the items you want back and click Restore to return them to their original locations.
  4. The second part demonstrates moving and restoring an entire folder. Optimizing the ZIP, deleting permanently, or emptying the trash makes those items unrecoverable. Restore anything you need first.
Play to watch · Full screen available