# ASiC-E Viewer for Mac: open .asice files on macOS

> Quick Look shows nothing and Preview refuses the file. macOS has no built-in ASiC-E viewer for Mac users, yet opening a signed container on a MacBook or iMac takes under a minute.

Source: https://asiceviewer.com/en/blog/asice-viewer-for-mac/
Published: 2026-11-10 · Digixy

## In short

- Drag the file onto [asiceviewer.com](https://asiceviewer.com/en/#tool) in Safari, Chrome or Firefox.
- For signing and official validation, install DigiDoc4 for macOS.
- Works on Apple silicon and Intel Macs alike.

## Open in Safari

1. Open Safari and go to asiceviewer.com.
2. Drag the `.asice` file from Finder or from the Mail attachment area onto the page.
3. Read the documents; signers are listed on the left.

Nothing is installed and Gatekeeper is not involved, because nothing is executed outside the browser.

## From Apple Mail

Attachments in Mail can be dragged directly onto the Safari window. Alternatively, click the attachment's download arrow; it lands in Downloads, from where you can drag it.

## Add the viewer to the Dock

On macOS Sonoma and later, choose **File → Add to Dock** in Safari. ASiCE Viewer becomes a standalone app with its own window and icon. In Chrome the equivalent is **Install page as app** in the menu.

## DigiDoc4 on a Mac

The official client is available for macOS from id.ee and from the Mac App Store. After installation `.asice` files open with a double-click, and you can sign with an ID-card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID. Card readers work over USB; many are USB-A, so newer Macs need an adapter.

## Why Finder tricks fall short

| macOS feature | Result with `.asice` |
| Quick Look (space bar) | Generic icon, no preview |
| Preview | Cannot open the file |
| Archive Utility on a `.zip` copy | Extracts the documents, no signature information |
| TextEdit | Unreadable binary text |

The Archive Utility route works as an emergency peek: duplicate the file, rename the copy to `.zip`, confirm the extension change and double-click.

## Show extensions in Finder

Open **Finder → Settings → Advanced** and enable **Show all filename extensions**. Otherwise a container can look like a nameless document.

## Set a default app

Select an `.asice` file, press Cmd+I, pick the application under **Open with** and click **Change All**.

## iPhone and iPad alongside the Mac

Files saved to iCloud Drive on the Mac are available in the Files app on iPhone, where Safari can open them in the same viewer. See [ASiC-E viewer for iPhone](https://asiceviewer.com/en/blog/asice-viewer-for-iphone/). If you also carry an Android device, there is the [ASiC-E Viewer app](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.digixy.asiceviewer&hl=en&referrer=utm_source%3Dasiceviewer.com%26utm_medium%3Dblog-md).

## Frequently asked questions

**Does the viewer work on Apple silicon Macs?**

Yes. It runs in the browser, so the processor type does not matter.

**Can macOS Preview open .asice files?**

No. Open the container in a viewer and download the PDF inside; Preview opens that.

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Open your .asice file now: https://asiceviewer.com/en/
ASiC-E Viewer on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.digixy.asiceviewer