How to Extract Files from a CPIO Archive on macOS
CPIO (Copy In/Copy Out) is a Unix archive format used internally by macOS installer packages (PKG files), Linux RPM packages, and initramfs images. While not commonly encountered directly, knowing how to handle CPIO files can be useful for developers and system administrators.
The default way to open CPIO files on macOS
Tool: Terminal (built-in)
$ cpio -id < archive.cpioSteps
- Open Terminal.
- Navigate to the desired output directory.
- Run: cpio -id < archive.cpio
- To list contents: cpio -it < archive.cpio
Extract individual files from a CPIO archive
The default macOS tools extract everything — there's no way to pick individual files. MacPacker lets you browse CPIO archive contents, preview files, and extract only what you need — without unpacking the entire archive.
A better way: open CPIO files with MacPacker
MacPacker is a free, open-source macOS archive manager that supports CPIO 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 extract a CPIO file on Mac?
Open Terminal and run: cpio -id < archive.cpio. To list contents first: cpio -it < archive.cpio. MacPacker also supports CPIO files with visual browsing.
Related formats
TAR (tape archive) bundles files without compression. Often combined with GZ, BZ2, or XZ for compressed archives. Natively supported via Terminal on macOS.
PKG is Apple's installer package format. Used for macOS software that requires system-level installation.
XAR (eXtensible ARchive) is Apple's archive format used internally for PKG installers and Xcode distributions.