unshield ☆

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Description:
Extract files from InstallShield cabinet files

Type: Formula | Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Developer tools

Tags: unshield installshield archive extraction cli legacy

Install: brew install unshield

About:
Unshield is a command-line utility designed to extract files from InstallShield cabinet (.cab) archives, commonly used in legacy Windows software installers. It provides a reliable way to access the contents of these proprietary archives on non-Windows systems. This tool is essential for software preservation, forensic analysis, and developers needing to inspect or modify installer components.

Key Features:

Extracts files from InstallShield .cab archives
Supports both compressed and uncompressed cabinet formats
Command-line interface for scripting and automation
Cross-platform compatibility

Use Cases:

Extracting assets from legacy Windows games or software for modding or archival
Analyzing installer contents for security research or software compatibility
Automating the unpacking of vendor-provided driver or firmware packages

Alternatives:

7-Zip – A general-purpose archiver that can handle many formats, but Unshield is specialized for InstallShield and may be more reliable for older or obscure CAB variants.

Version History

Detected	Version	Rev	Change	Commit
Sep 11, 2025 11:19pm		0	VERSION_BUMP	3b17f5e3