Open ZIP Files on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Linux, or Mobile

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Extract the contents of a “.zip” file on any platform
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Need to open a file that ends with .ZIP? You don't need to download any special software! If someone sent you a ZIP file or you downloaded one from the internet, this simple tutorial we've prepared (with help from computer and tech specialist Luigi Oppido) will show you'll learn how to unzip a .zip file for free on your PC, Mac, Android, iPhone, and iPad.

How to Open Files Without Winzip

  • On a Windows PC, right-click the ZIP file and select Extract all.
  • On a Mac, double-click the ZIP file to open it.
  • On Android, open the Files or My Files app, tap the ZIP file, and tap Extract.
  • On iPhone and iPad, open the Files app, navigate to the ZIP file, then tap to open it.
Method 1
Method 1 of 8:

Using Windows

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  1. 1
    Press ⊞ Win + E to open File Explorer. File Explorer has an icon that resembles a manila folder with a blue clip. You can click the File Explorer icon in the Taskbar or Windows Start menu. You can also use the keyboard shortcut to open File Explorer.
    • According to Oppido, most modern operating systems, including Windows, have their own interfaces for opening ZIP files. You won’t need WinZip unless you are using a much older operating system, such as Windows Vista or earlier. [1]
  2. ZIP files have an icon resembling a manila folder with a zipper.
    • Since ZIP files store regular files and folders in a compressed format, you'll need to extract the ZIP file to properly use the contents within. [2]
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  3. This displays a context menu next to the file. [3]
  4. You will see a dialogue box asking you to select a destination for the uncompressed file. [4]
  5. This opens a list of files and folders on your PC.
  6. You can choose any folder on your computer. When you unzip the file, a new folder with the same name will be placed inside the folder you choose here. [5]
  7. It's at the bottom of the window. Now you'll see the name of the folder you selected in the "Files will be extracted to this folder" field.
  8. This ensures that the folder you extract will open automatically, which will make it easier to find the files you're looking for.
  9. This extracts the files and folders inside the ZIP file and displays them in a window. You can now browse and open the files.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 8:

Using Mac

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  1. It's the two-toned smiley face icon on the Dock, usually at the bottom of the screen.
    • Most newer operating systems, including macOS, have their own interface for opening ZIP files. MacOS has the Archive Utility. You won’t need WinZip unless you are using an earlier version of macOS, such as macOS X 10.3 (Jaguar) or earlier. [6]
  2. If the ZIP file was downloaded from the internet, it will most likely be found in your Downloads folder. If it's on your desktop, you'll see it in the Desktop folder.
    • Since zip files store regular files and folders in a compressed format, you'll need to extract the zip file to use properly the stored files and folders.
  3. The ZIP file will now extract to the current folder. A new folder with extracted contents from the zip file will be created. [7]
  4. If the new folder doesn't open automatically, double-click it to view and open the files inside.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 8:

Using Android

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  1. If you have a Samsung Galaxy, you can open the My Files app, which you'll find in your app list. Other Android models usually come with an app called Files by Google or Files app, which should also be in your app list. [8]
    • The Files or My Files may be located inside a different folder in the Apps menu. If you don't see the Files or My Files app, check the "Samsung" or “Google” folder or another folder named after your mobile manufacturer or carrier.
    • If you have trouble finding an app like this, open the Google Play Store and search for "Files by Google." Install the app so you can use it to browse and unzip files.
  2. Use the Files app to navigate to the location of your zip file. If you downloaded it from the internet, it will most likely be in the Downloads section or recent activity.
    • If you can't find the file in the correct location, check both your Android's Internal Storage and your SD Card.
  3. This displays the contents of the zip file.
    • If you're using a Samsung Galaxy, you'll see checkboxes next to each file inside. If you don't want to extract all the files, you can tap the checkmarks next to those you don't want. This prevents those files from being extracted.
  4. It's at the bottom of the file list. This extracts all the ZIP file's contents and saves them in a new folder with the same name as the ZIP file.
    • If you are using Files by Google, you can tap the checkbox that says Delete zip file and then tap Finished to delete the original ZIP file.
  5. This new folder with the same name as the ZIP file contains the contents of the ZIP file you just extracted.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 8:

Using iPhone and iPad

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  1. This is the icon with a blue folder on your Home screen or in your App Library. [9]
  2. It's the folder icon at the bottom-right corner of the screen. This will take you to a list of locations, such as On My iPhone and iCloud Drive .
    • If you are using an iPad, you can use the menu bar to the left to browse files on your device. If you don’t see the menu bar, tap the icon that resembles a screen with three panels in the upper-left corner.
  3. Files downloaded from the web are usually saved to the Downloads folder on your iPhone or iPad.
    • If you don't see the zip file, check both On My iPhone/iPad and iCloud Drive . You might have a Downloads folder with different contents in both locations.
  4. Tapping the icon will automatically unzip the file, creating a new folder in the current location with the same name. [10]
  5. It'll have the same name as the zip file. This opens the folder with all the extracted contents. [11]
    • Tapping any of the files in the new folder will open them up in their supported application.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 8:

Using a Chromebook

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  1. 1
    Open the Files app. To do so, click the Launcher icon in the lower-right corner, then click the Files app in the Launcher. It has an icon that resembles a blue folder.
  2. 2
    Navigate to the location of your ZIP file. If you downloaded it from the internet, it will most likely be in your Downloads folder.
  3. 3
    Right-click the ZIP file and select Extract all . This will unzip the zip file and create a new folder at your current location with all the files in the zip file. [12]
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Method 6
Method 6 of 8:

Using Linux

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  1. 1
    Unzip a file using the graphical user interface. Depending on which Linux distribution you are using, you may be able to open a zip file using the graphical user interface. To do so, simply open the file browser application and navigate to the zip file. Right-click it and click Uncompress , Extract to , Extract all , or something similar. Select the location you want to extract the files to and click Select , Extract , or something similar. [13]
    • If you are not able to open the zip file using the graphical user interface or you want to learn how to open a zip file using the Terminal, continue to the next step.
  2. 2
    Press Ctrl + AltT to open the Terminal. The Terminal usually has an icon that resembles a black screen with a white text cursor. Click the Terminal icon in your Apps menu or use the keyboard shortcut to open the Terminal.
  3. 3
    Install Unzip. You can use the Unzip command line utility to unzip files using the Terminal. However, it may not be installed by default. Enter one of the following commands and press Enter to install Unzip: [14]
    • Debian/Ubuntu: sudo apt install unzip .
    • Fedora/Red Hat/CentOS: sudo yum install unzip .
    • Arch Linux: sudo dnf install unzip
  4. 4
    Change to the directory of the zip file. To change directories in the Terminal, type cd followed by the path to the zip file. For example, cd /home/user/Downloads .
  5. 5
    Unzip a file. To unzip a file using Unzip, type unzip followed by the zip file name. For example, unzip archive.zip .
    • To unzip a file and save the contents to another location, type unzip [zip filename] . Then enter “-d” followed by the directory you want to unzip the file to. For example, unzip archive.zip -d /home/user/Documents .
    • Unzip a password-protected zip file. To unzip a zip file with a password, type unzip -P followed by the password. Then enter the name of the zip file. For example unzip -P password archive.zip . [15]
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Method 7
Method 7 of 8:

Using 7-Zip

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  1. 1
    Install 7-Zip. 7-Zip is a free and open-source archive utility you can use to open ZIP files and compress files in the “.zip” format. Additionally, 7-Zip can archive and open files in its own “.7z” format . Use the following steps to install 7-Zip.
    • Go to the 7-Zip download page .
    • Click Download next to the version of 7-Zip that works for your operating system and system architecture.
    • Open the installation file in your Downloads folder.
    • Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
  2. 2
    Open File Explorer or Finder and navigate to the ZIP file. If you are using Windows, press Win + E to open File Explorer. If you are using a Mac, click the icon that resembles a blue and white smiley face in the dock to open Finder.
  3. 3
    Right-click the zip file and hover over 7-Zip . This displays a submenu to the side with 7-Zip options.
    • If you don’t see the 7-Zip option in the context menu, click Show More Options at the bottom of the menu.
    • Alternatively, you can click Open with… and select 7-Zip. Click Extract at the top to extract the contents of the zip file.
  4. 4
    Click Extract here . This extracts the contents of the zip file and creates a new folder with the same name.
    • To view the contents of the zip file using 7-Zip, right-click the file and hover over 7-Zip, then click Open archive .
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Method 8
Method 8 of 8:

Using WinRAR

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  1. 1
    Download and install WinRAR. According to Oppido, you can use WinRAR to open “.zip” and “.rar” files. [16] While WinRAR is technically not free, you can use the trial version for as long as you need. WinRAR is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, and Android. Use the following steps to download and install WinRAR:
    • Go to the WinRAR download page .
    • Click the download link for your language and operating system.
    • Open the installation file in your Downloads folder.
    • Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
  2. 2
    Open File Explorer or Finder and navigate to the ZIP file. If you are using Windows, press Win + E to open File Explorer. If you are using a Mac, click the icon that resembles a blue and white smiley face in the dock to open Finder. If the ZIP file is one you downloaded from the internet, it is most likely in your Downloads folder.
  3. 3
    Right-click or control-click the ZIP file. This will display a context menu.
  4. 4
    Hover over WinRAR . This displays a submenu with WinRAR options.
    • If you don’t see this option in the context menu, click Show more options in the context menu.
    • Alternatively, you can click Open with… and select WinRAR to open the file in WinRAR.
  5. 5
    Click Extract files… . This opens the WinRAR dialogue box.
    • Alternatively, you can click Extract here to extract the entire contents of the zip file to the current location.
    • Click Open with WinRAR to view the files inside WinRAR. You can click Extract to extract the folder's contents.
  6. 6
    Select where you want to extract the files. Use the panel to the right to browse and select a location you want to extract the files to.
  7. 7
    Click OK . This extracts the ZIP file to the location you chose and creates a folder of the same name at that location.
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Expert Q&A

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Add New Question
  • Question
    What is a .Zip file?
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Expert Answer
    A .Zip file is a way to compress many files into one larger file. These types of files allow you to store lots of data in one place without taking up much memory.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 6
  • Question
    What do I do of there is no "extract all" option when I right click? I have Windows 7 with Service Pack 1.
    Community Answer
    I found that I was unable to extract while my zipped file was in a folder. I moved the zipped file to my desktop, clicked on the icon and held it with my right mouse button, and moved it over a bit before releasing. That gave me the option to extract.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 49 Helpful 98
  • Question
    How do I open a zip file on my Samsung Galaxy 111 phone?
    Community Answer
    To open a zip file on your Android phone, you need to download a file explorer that is able to do so, i.e. ES File Explorer. Navigate to the zip file and press and hold on it to select it. Then press the 3 points on top right corner (or somewhere close by) and select Extract...Choose a path and then navigate to it. There you will find the extracted folder.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 10 Helpful 19
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      References

      1. ↑ Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview. 25 Jun 2020.
      2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/zip-and-unzip-files-8d28fa72-f2f9-712f-67df-f80cf89fd4e5
      3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/zip-and-unzip-files-8d28fa72-f2f9-712f-67df-f80cf89fd4e5
      4. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/zip-and-unzip-files-8d28fa72-f2f9-712f-67df-f80cf89fd4e5
      5. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/zip-and-unzip-files-f6dde0a7-0fec-8294-e1d3-703ed85e7ebc
      6. ↑ https://apple.fandom.com/wiki/Archive_Utility
      7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/zip-and-unzip-files-and-folders-on-mac-mchlp2528/mac
      8. ↑ https://support.google.com/files/answer/9048509?hl=en
      9. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102532
      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102532
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102532
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/1700055
      4. ↑ https://phoenixnap.com/kb/how-to-unzip-file-linux-ubuntu
      5. ↑ https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/unzip-command-in-linux/
      6. ↑ https://linuxize.com/post/how-to-unzip-files-in-linux/
      7. ↑ Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview. 25 Jun 2020.

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To open a .zip file without Winzip on a Windows computer, first double click the ZIP file to open it and click “Extract,” which you’ll find below the tools heading. Once the toolbar appears, click “Extract all” followed by “Extract” when the pop-up window appears. If you’re using a Mac, simply double click the ZIP folder, which will cause it to extract automatically. For ZIP files on your iPhone, download iZIP, which is a free app for extracting ZIP files, from the App Store. Then, move the file you want to extract into the iZIP folder before tapping the iZIP app. Once the app opens, select “Files,” which will show a list of the files in your iZIP folder. Tap the one you want to extract, then tap “Ok” to start the process. To learn more, including how to extract a ZIP file on Android, read on!

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