See inside any folder or archive. Just press Space.
Quick X Preview extends macOS Quick Look so folders show their contents and archives show what’s inside — without opening, extracting, or installing anything else.
$4.99 one-time · Lifetime license · macOS 13.0 or later · Apple notarized
Everything Quick Look leaves out
Finder already previews files. Quick X Preview adds the two things it never has: what is inside a folder, and what is inside an archive.
Look inside folders without opening them
Select a folder in Finder, press Space, and see what is in it — names, sizes, and dates. No new window, no digging through nested folders.
Preview archives without extracting
Look inside a ZIP, RAR, 7Z or TAR before you commit to unpacking it. See the file list first, then decide whether it is worth extracting at all.
Image thumbnails, not just file names
Folders full of photos render as a thumbnail grid instead of a list of filenames, so you can find the shot you are after by looking at it.
Grid or list, your choice
Switch between a thumbnail grid and a detailed list, set the thumbnail size, and choose how items are sorted. The layout can also adapt automatically based on what a folder holds.
Formats macOS ignores
Comic books (CBZ, CBR) and app packages (JAR, WAR, IPA, APK) preview like any other archive — none of which macOS previews on its own.
Nothing leaves your Mac
Sandboxed like any App Store app. No Full Disk Access, no account, no analytics, no network calls for previews. When you press Space, macOS hands the extension that one item — nothing else is readable.
Fast on the second look
Previews are cached, so returning to a folder or archive is instant. Cache limits and expiry are yours to set, and you can clear it any time.
Guided setup
macOS ships Quick Look extensions switched off. The app walks you through turning them on, with a small guide window that floats over System Settings showing exactly which two switches to flip, and confirms when each one goes live.
Stays current on its own
Updates are checked, downloaded and installed in the background, each one verified against a signing key before it is applied. Turn any of that off in Preferences.
Up and running in three steps
- 1
Install
Drag Quick X Preview to your Applications folder.
- 2
Switch it on
Open the app once and follow the setup guide. It opens the right System Settings pane for you and shows which two extensions to enable.
- 3
Press Space
Select any folder or archive in Finder. That’s it.
Formats it opens up
Archives
ZIP · RAR · 7Z · TAR · GZ · BZ2 · TGZ · TBZ2 · TAR.GZ · TAR.BZ2
Containers
CBZ · CBR · JAR · WAR · IPA · APK
Folders
Any folder, including nested contents up to a depth you choose.
Keyboard shortcuts
| Keys | Action |
|---|---|
| Space | Preview the item selected in Finder |
| ⌘ Y | Preview from the Finder menu bar |
| ⌥ Space | Preview full screen |
| ← → | Step through items while previewing |
| Esc | Close the preview |
One price. Yours for good.
Buy it once and every future update is included. No subscription, no renewal, no upgrade fee.
Lifetime license
One-time payment
- All future updates included, forever
- Folder and archive previews in Quick Look
- Every supported format, no add-ons
- Use it on your own Macs
- No subscription, no account, no tracking
Secure checkout by Paddle. Your license key is issued right after payment.
Or download the app firstStop opening folders to find out what’s in them
One press of the space bar and you know. Works alongside everything Finder already previews.
$4.99 one-time, all future updates included · macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later · Apple silicon or Intel · Signed and notarized by Apple
Frequently Asked Questions
Want the full picture on Mac file previews? Read our complete guide to previewing files on Mac without opening them.