PKPassport for Mac

Japanese filenames stay readable on Windows.

PKPassport is a tool focused solely on ensuring that ZIP files created on a Mac do not display garbled filenames when opened by a Windows recipient. It also automatically removes unnecessary Mac-specific files (.DS_Store / __MACOSX / ._*) included by Finder’s standard ZIP feature. Before sending, you can preview on screen how the files will appear on the recipient’s Windows computer. Everything shown reflects actual behavior. No exaggeration.

Main Features

• No Garbled Filenames — Optimizes filenames for the recipient (Japanese Windows = CP932 / other languages = UTF-8). Prevents garbled text
• Removes Mac Files — Automatically excludes .DS_Store / __MACOSX / ._*. Keeps the recipient’s folder clean
• Windows Preview — Preview on the spot how files will appear on the recipient’s Windows computer before sending
• AES-256 Encryption — Strong password protection compatible with 7-Zip / WinRAR / Keka. Compatibility-focused ZipCrypto is also available
• Instant Drag and Drop — Simply drop files or folders. The ZIP is saved next to the original data

Designed for Peace of Mind

• Your original data remains unchanged. The ZIP is created next to the original files
• Nothing is sent to a server. Everything is completed locally on your Mac
• Apple-notarized. Install without Gatekeeper warnings

The Origin of the Name — Every ZIP Begins with the Two Letters PK

If you open a ZIP file in a binary editor, the first two characters are always “PK” (hexadecimal 50 4B). This is not decoration. They are the initials of Phil Katz, the engineer who created the ZIP format in 1989.

At the time, companies used separate proprietary compression formats that could not decompress one another’s files. He released ZIP as a compression format that anyone could use freely and made its specification open. That is why, nearly 40 years later, ZIP remains a “common language” that can be opened on Windows, Mac, Linux, and virtually every environment around the world. You can casually send a ZIP today because he did not monopolize the format.

In reality, however, one small border remained: ZIP files that were supposed to open anywhere could garble Japanese filenames when moved from Mac to Windows. PKPassport was created to remove that final border. It is a “Passport” that allows files to travel correctly from Mac to Windows without their names becoming garbled. And the two letters PK still quietly watch over every ZIP from its beginning. The name is a small tribute to Phil Katz, who made ZIP the world’s common language.

About Your Purchase

One-time purchase of ¥1,980 (not a subscription). We will send you a download link after purchase.
System requirements: macOS 14 Sonoma or later (Apple Silicon / Intel supported)