These prompts will also be accompanied with relevant dialog icons pulled from the macOS system files, if these for any reason can't be found then the icons will fall back to icons that come built-in with system dialogs, the plus side of this functionality is that if macOS ever gets an icon overhaul, the prompts will stay in theme. The prompts use consistent terminoligy, are written neutrally and keep the user informed about what they are supposed to do and what the current situation is. Image source: Apple Developer - WWDC 2018 Keynote - 1:43:27īecause of this mindset, it was important to have a user-friendly process that would fit perfectly in macOS. Initial inspiration comes from the Quick Action 'Add Password' which was visible in the Apple WWDC Keynote from 2018.

The goal was to make a Quick Action that behaves as close to what a built-in version of this functionality would look like.

Verify this password by entering it again, click 'OK' or press return to start the creation of your archive.

Give a password to secure your archive with, then click 'OK' or pressing return.

Or if you use the Preview menu in Finder select it from the Quick Actions list.

Right click the selection and select 'Compress With Password.' from the Quick Actions sub menu.

Select the file(s) you want to compress with a password in Finder.

Right click the Quick Action with the title 'Compress With Password.' and select 'Move to Trash'.

(You will still be able to access them in the menu bar under Finder > Services) You can also hide any Quick Actions from Quick Action lists/menus by removing the checkmark in front of the Quick Action in this list.

Drag and drop the Quick Action with the title 'Compress With Password.' so that the order of the Quick Actions is to your liking.

Open System Preferences and navigate to Extensions > Finder.

Select 'Install' in the prompt asking you if you want to install this Automator workflow file as a Service.

Open the Automator workflow file using Automator Installer (which is usually the default application for this kind of file).

It will unpack an Automator workflow file.

Download the latest release from the releases page.

A macOS Quick Action Automator workflow that allows the user to create a compressed ZIP file that is protected with a password in Finder.

Compress with password mac