See what’s inside, know it’s safe, and take the next step — without extracting a thing. Packing for someone else? Stow makes sure it opens on their computer too.
Most archive tools answer one of them: “where should I extract this?” Stow answers all four, on one screen.
Browse, search and preview everything — even archives inside archives — before anything touches your disk.
Every archive gets a Checkup: paths that try to escape, unsigned apps, files that expand suspiciously.
Fonts offer to install. Apps offer to move to Applications. The right step is already on screen.
Tell Stow who it’s for. It fixes names Windows rejects and leaves out Mac-only clutter.
Stow inspects every archive the moment it opens and tells you what it found, in plain words. Problems are handled for you — and explained, so you’re never surprised.
Select something and a floating capsule offers exactly what makes sense for it — no hunting through menus, no extracting first and figuring it out later.
No dialog full of checkboxes. Change any highlighted word — the report underneath tells you exactly what will happen. Try it.
Click a highlighted word to change it
Rest the pointer on a file to preview it. Once one is open, its neighbours open instantly — so scanning a list feels effortless.
A floating shelf at the edge of your screen. Gather files from different folders, then pack them or drag them out together.
Remember part of a name? That’s enough.
An archive inside an archive opens like a folder. No extracting first.
AES-256, hidden file names in 7Z, and volumes sized for email or a FAT32 drive.
From everyday ZIPs to installer packages and disk images, built on the official 7-Zip engine.
| Format | Extensions | Create |
|---|---|---|
| ZIP | .zip .zipx .jar .apk | Encryption, split volumes |
| 7Z | .7z | Encrypted file names |
| TAR family | .tar .tgz .tbz2 .txz .tar.zst | Keeps permissions |
| RAR 4 & 5 | .rar .cbr .partN.rar | Open & extract |
| Compressed files | .gz .bz2 .xz .lzma .lz .zst | Open & extract |
| Disk images | .dmg .iso | Open & extract |
| Packages | .pkg .xar .cab .msi .rpm .deb .cpio .arj .lzh | Open & extract |
No uploads, no analytics on what you open. Archive contents, names and passwords never leave the device.
Archives are read by a separate, sandboxed helper. A malformed file can’t reach the rest of the app.
Edits are staged and written in one step. Cancel, or hit an error, and the original is exactly as it was.
No trials, no Pro tier, no feature behind a paywall. Every line is public, so you can read exactly what Stow does with your files.
The app, the sandboxed engine helper and this website are all in one public repository. Trust you can check.
Search, hover previews, encryption, split volumes, editing, installing apps and fonts — no upsell, ever.
Report a bug, suggest a format, translate the interface or send a pull request. The roadmap is public too.