How to Extract Files from a CAB (Windows Cabinet) Archive on macOS
CAB (Cabinet) files are Microsoft's archive format, commonly found in Windows installer packages, driver distributions, and Windows Update files. If you're working cross-platform or dealing with Windows software on your Mac, you may need to extract CAB files.
The default way to open CAB files on macOS
Tool: cabextract via Homebrew (third-party)
$ cabextract archive.cabSteps
- Install cabextract via Homebrew: brew install cabextract
- Run: cabextract archive.cab
- Files are extracted to the current directory.
Extract individual files from a CAB archive
The default macOS tools extract everything — there's no way to pick individual files. MacPacker lets you browse CAB archive contents, preview files, and extract only what you need — without unpacking the entire archive.
A better way: open CAB files with MacPacker
MacPacker is a free, open-source macOS archive manager that supports CAB and 30+ other formats. Unlike the default tools, MacPacker lets you:
- Browse archive contents like a folder
- Preview files with Quick Look without extracting
- Extract individual files via drag and drop
- Navigate nested archives (archives within archives)
- Enjoy a native SwiftUI interface that feels right at home on macOS
Get MacPacker
v0.15.1 · macOS 14+$ brew install --cask macpackerApp Store updates may lag a few days behind direct downloads due to Apple review.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a CAB file on Mac?
macOS cannot open CAB files natively. Use MacPacker to browse and extract CAB archives visually. Alternatively, install cabextract via Homebrew: brew install cabextract, then run: cabextract archive.cab