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How To Extract and Decompress CPGZ Archived Files on macOS

CPGZ is a compressed archive file format commonly used on macOS and Linux systems. It combines the Copy In, Copy Out (CPIO) archive format with GZIP compression. This allows multiple files and folders to be stored in a single compressed archive for easier transportation and storage.

If you receive a CPGZ file from someone and need to access the contents, here is how to extract and decompress the archive on your Mac:

What You Need

  • A Mac computer running macOS
  • A CPGZ archived file you want to extract
  • An archive utility app (the default Archive Utility app or a 3rd party app)

Using the Default Archive Utility

macOS comes with a built-in Archive Utility app that can handle many common archive formats, including CPGZ.

To extract a CPGZ file using Archive Utility:

  1. Double-click on the CPGZ file to launch Archive Utility
  2. Archive Utility will automatically extract the contents
  3. The extracted files and folders will appear in the same directory as your CPGZ archive

However, sometimes Archive Utility can get stuck in a loop when extracting CPGZ files. If that happens, move on to the next method using the command line.

Using the Command Line

The unzip command in the Terminal app can be used to forcibly extract stubborn CPGZ files.

To decompress a CPGZ archive via the command line:

  1. Open the Terminal app in /Applications/Utilities/
  2. Type unzip and press Spacebar
  3. Drag your CPGZ file into the Terminal window to auto-fill the file path
  4. Press Return to execute the command

This will extract all contents of the CPGZ archive into the current working directory.

Using a 3rd Party Archive Utility

If the default Archive Utility fails, you can also try installing a free 3rd party archive tool like The Unarchiver.

To extract a CPGZ file with The Unarchiver:

  1. Download and install The Unarchiver
  2. Right-click on your CPGZ file and choose “Open With > The Unarchiver”
  3. The Unarchiver will decompress and extract the archive contents

The Unarchiver handles many more archive types than the default Archive Utility. It’s a useful tool to install.

Converting Extracted Files

Once you have extracted the contents of a CPGZ file, you can convert the individual files to other formats if needed. For example:

  • Documents can be converted to PDF, DOC, HTML, JPG using text converters
  • Media files like videos and music can be converted using media converters
  • Images can be exported to formats like PNG, JPG, GIF

So extract your CPGZ archive first, then convert the contents.

Tips for Working With CPGZ Files

Here are some additional tips:

  • Try the default Archive Utility app first before installing other tools
  • Use the Terminal unzip command to force extraction if needed
  • Install The Unarchiver for expanded archive format support
  • Extract CPGZ contents first before trying to convert files
  • CPGZ files can store any type of file such as documents, images, video, etc.
  • CPGZ is used primarily on macOS and Linux operating systems

Learning how to properly extract and decompress CPGZ archives will allow you to access the contents of this common Mac file archive format. The techniques above offer a few simple ways to handle these files.

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