LZ4.lz4 · .tar.lz4

How to Extract Files from a LZ4 Archive on macOS

LZ4 is an extremely fast compression algorithm that trades compression ratio for speed. Apple uses LZ4 internally in APFS, and it's common in real-time data processing. macOS can handle LZ4 via Homebrew tools.

The default way to open LZ4 files on macOS

Tool: lz4 via Homebrew (third-party)

$ lz4 -d file.lz4 file

Steps

  1. Install lz4 via Homebrew: brew install lz4
  2. Decompress: lz4 -d file.lz4 file
  3. For .tar.lz4: lz4 -d archive.tar.lz4 | tar xf -
Note: macOS does not include lz4 command-line tools by default.

Extract individual files from a LZ4 archive

The default macOS tools extract everything — there's no way to pick individual files. MacPacker lets you browse LZ4 archive contents, preview files, and extract only what you need — without unpacking the entire archive.

A better way: open LZ4 files with MacPacker

MacPacker is a free, open-source macOS archive manager that supports LZ4 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 macpacker
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App Store updates may lag a few days behind direct downloads due to Apple review.

Frequently asked questions

How do I open an LZ4 file on Mac?

Install lz4 via Homebrew (brew install lz4), then run: lz4 -d file.lz4 output. For a visual approach, MacPacker can open LZ4 files directly.

What is LZ4 compression?

LZ4 is an extremely fast lossless compression algorithm. It's optimized for speed rather than compression ratio, making it ideal for real-time applications. Apple uses LZ4 in APFS.

Related formats

GZ.gz

Gzip is the most common compression format on Unix/macOS. Usually wraps a TAR archive to create .tar.gz files. Natively supported on macOS.

XZ.xz

XZ uses LZMA2 compression for excellent compression ratios. Common in Linux distributions and large software packages.

BZ2.bz2

Bzip2 offers better compression than Gzip at the cost of speed. Common for source code distributions and Linux packages.