{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-make-a-compressed-disk-image-of-a-folder","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-make-a-compressed-disk-image-of-a-folder","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"disks-formats","title":"Disks, APFS and formats"},"question":"How do I archive a folder as a compressed disk image on a Mac?","alt_questions":["disk utility image from folder","create dmg from folder","compressed dmg archive mac","archive project as disk image","new image from folder mac","make read-only disk image"],"short_answer":"In Disk Utility choose File → New Image → Image from Folder, set the format to compressed, and save. Check it opens before deleting the original.","answer_markdown":"Open **Disk Utility** and choose **File → New Image → Image from Folder…**. Pick the folder, then set **Image Format** to **compressed** and save the image (on an external drive, if it's an archive).\n\nYou get one .dmg file that opens like a disk when double-clicked. Compression helps with documents and code but not much with photos or video, which are already compressed. Check the image opens and the files are there before deleting the original folder. Zip is the simpler alternative: [does zipping save space](/faq/mac-storage-basics/does-zipping-files-save-space-on-a-mac).","answer_html":"

Open Disk Utility and choose File → New Image → Image from Folder…. Pick the folder, then set Image Format to compressed and save the image (on an external drive, if it's an archive).

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You get one .dmg file that opens like a disk when double-clicked. Compression helps with documents and code but not much with photos or video, which are already compressed. Check the image opens and the files are there before deleting the original folder. Zip is the simpler alternative: does zipping save space.

","answer_text":"Open Disk Utility and choose File → New Image → Image from Folder…. Pick the folder, then set Image Format to compressed and save the image (on an external drive, if it's an archive).\n\nYou get one .dmg file that opens like a disk when double-clicked. Compression helps with documents and code but not much with photos or video, which are already compressed. Check the image opens and the files are there before deleting the original folder. Zip is the simpler alternative: does zipping save space.","tags":["disk image","archive","compression"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.what-are-disk-images-and-sparse-bundles","question":"What are disk images (.dmg) and sparse bundles?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-are-disk-images-and-sparse-bundles"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-archive-old-projects","question":"What's a good way to archive old projects off my Mac?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-archive-old-projects"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I archive a folder as a compressed disk image on a Mac? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"In Disk Utility choose File → New Image → Image from Folder, set the format to compressed, and save. Check it opens before deleting the original.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"How do I archive a folder as a compressed disk image on a Mac?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-make-a-compressed-disk-image-of-a-folder"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-make-a-compressed-disk-image-of-a-folder","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I archive a folder as a compressed disk image on a Mac?","alternateName":["disk utility image from folder","create dmg from folder","compressed dmg archive mac","archive project as disk image","new image from folder mac","make read-only disk image"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Open Disk Utility and choose File → New Image → Image from Folder…. Pick the folder, then set Image Format to compressed and save the image (on an external drive, if it's an archive).\n\nYou get one .dmg file that opens like a disk when double-clicked. Compression helps with documents and code but not much with photos or video, which are already compressed. Check the image opens and the files are there before deleting the original folder. Zip is the simpler alternative: does zipping save space.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-make-a-compressed-disk-image-of-a-folder"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Disks, APFS and formats

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How do I archive a folder as a compressed disk image on a Mac?

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Short answer: In Disk Utility choose File → New Image → Image from Folder, set the format to compressed, and save. Check it opens before deleting the original.

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Open Disk Utility and choose File → New Image → Image from Folder…. Pick the folder, then set Image Format to compressed and save the image (on an external drive, if it's an archive).

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You get one .dmg file that opens like a disk when double-clicked. Compression helps with documents and code but not much with photos or video, which are already compressed. Check the image opens and the files are there before deleting the original folder. Zip is the simpler alternative: does zipping save space.

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