Unfold extends macOS Quick Look to preview folders, archives, source code, markdown, ebooks, and more instantly from Finder. It allows users to inspect archives without extracting and read files with clean syntax highlighting.
Unfold is a macOS Quick Look file preview extension that significantly broadens the built-in Quick Look capabilities. It is designed for developers, writers, designers, system administrators, and any power user who frequently works with diverse file types. The core value of Unfold is instant, seamless preview of files—folders, archives, source code with syntax highlighting, Markdown, Mermaid diagrams, ebooks, and comic archives—directly within Finder, Spotlight, or third-party file managers. By eliminating the need to open dedicated applications just to glance at a file's contents, Unfold streamlines workflows and reduces context switching, making file inspection faster and more efficient.
Apple's native Quick Look only supports a limited set of common file formats like images, PDFs, and text files. Users often face the pain point of having to open separate applications—such as archiving tools, code editors, or ebook readers—simply to view the contents of a folder, inspect a compressed archive, or check a snippet of source code. This disrupts workflow and consumes time, especially for users who regularly handle many files. Unfold solves this problem by adding instant preview support for over 149 file extensions across nine categories, allowing users to quickly assess file content without leaving their current context. This matters because it speeds up everyday tasks, reduces app clutter, and makes file management more fluid.
The first major feature group is Folder & Archive Previews. Unfold offers three distinct layouts for viewing folder contents: Native, Grid, and List. The Native layout mirrors the default macOS folder view, while Grid and List provide alternative arrangements tailored for dense file browsing. For archives—including ZIP, RAR, TAR, 7z, and many others—Unfold displays the archive's contents without requiring extraction. This is particularly useful for developers who need to verify the structure of a project archive or for anyone who wants to quickly check what files are inside a compressed package. These previews work in Finder, Spotlight, and third-party file managers, ensuring flexibility across the macOS ecosystem.
The second major feature group is Source Code Previews. Unfold supports syntax highlighting for a vast array of programming languages and configuration files—83 source code extensions from C and Python to Swift, Go, and beyond. Users can adjust font size for readability, toggle line numbers on or off, and select and copy text directly from the preview. This makes it ideal for quick code reviews, inspecting config files, or checking log outputs without launching a full IDE or text editor. The syntax highlighting is clean and accurate, helping users parse code rapidly. This feature is especially valuable for developers working with multiple languages or reviewing external code snippets.
Publisher
A
admin
Launch Date2026-03-02
Platformdesktop
Pricingpaid
Domain Authority
Ahrefs DR2/100