How to Extract Files from a LHA/LZH Archive on macOS
LHA (also known as LZH or LHarc) is an archive format that was especially popular in Japan and the Amiga computing community. While uncommon today, LHA archives are still found in retro computing archives, Japanese software distributions, and Amiga preservation projects.
The default way to open LHA files on macOS
Tool: lha via Homebrew (third-party)
$ lha x archive.lhaSteps
- Install lha via Homebrew: brew install lha
- Run: lha x archive.lha
- Alternatively, use 7-Zip: 7zz x archive.lha
Extract individual files from a LHA archive
The default macOS tools extract everything — there's no way to pick individual files. MacPacker lets you browse LHA archive contents, preview files, and extract only what you need — without unpacking the entire archive.
A better way: open LHA files with MacPacker
MacPacker is a free, open-source macOS archive manager that supports LHA 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 an LHA or LZH file on Mac?
Use MacPacker to open LHA/LZH files with a visual browser. Alternatively, install lha via Homebrew (brew install lha) and run: lha x archive.lha
Related formats
LZH is an alternative extension for LHA archives, particularly common in Japanese computing.
ARJ was a popular DOS-era archive format. Rarely used today but still found in legacy archives and retro computing.
ZIP is the most widely used archive format on macOS. It supports lossless compression and is natively handled by Finder and Archive Utility.