How to Delete Zip Files on PC or Mac

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

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This wikiHow teaches you how to permanently delete a Zip file, and remove all of its contents from your computer.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

1
Open the File Explorer in a new window. You can search File Explorer, or find it on your Start menu.
- You can also just open any folder on your computer to open a new File Explorer window.
Browse your folders in File Explorer, or use the Search Quick access field on the top-right corner, and find the Zip file you want to delete.

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This will select and highlight the Zip file.
4
Press ⇧ Shift + Delete on your keyboard. This keyboard combination will permanently delete the selected Zip file without moving it to your trash folder or Recycle Bin.
- You will have to confirm your action in a new pop-up window.
- If you just want to move the file to Recycle Bin, press Delete .
This will permanently delete your Zip file, and remove it from your PC.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Click the blue smiling face icon the far-left end of your Dock to open Finder.
Browse your files, or use the Search bar on the top-right corner of the Finder window, and open the folder that contains the Zip file you want to delete.
This will open your right-click options on a drop-down menu.
This will move the selected Zip file to your computer's Trash bin.
Click the trash bin icon on the far-right end of your Dock to open Trash in a new window.
This will open your right-click menu.
7
Select Delete Immediately on the right-click menu. This will permanently delete the selected Zip file, and remove it from your Mac.
- Alternatively, you can select Empty Trash on the right-click menu here to delete everything in your Trash.