How to extract multiple ZIP files at the same time in Windows

Many users need to extract ZIP archives on Windows 10/11 PC. Windows' built-in archive decompression tool is great for extracting single ZIP files. However, that tool does not have the option to batch extract multiple ZIP files. This means you have to decompress the ZIP archive one by one when using that decompression utility.

Therefore, Windows' built-in decompression tool is not ideal when you need to decompress many ZIP files. You're better off using a third-party application like 7-Zip or ExtractNow that allows you to extract multiple ZIP archives. This is how you can extract multiple ZIP files simultaneously using those software packages.

How to extract multiple ZIP archives simultaneously with 7-Zip

7-Zip is one of the best file compression and decompression tools for Windows. That software is available for free and is widely compatible with Windows platforms dating back to 2000. You can batch extract multiple archives into different folders using that software as follows.

1. Download 7-Zip software.

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2. Click the pinned taskbar shortcut to open Windows File Explorer and go to the folder where your browser downloaded 7-Zip.

3. Double click on file 7z2301-x64.

4. Click Install to install 7-Zip in the folder specified in the Destination folder box .

5. Select Close to exit the installer.

Now it's time to put the app to use:

1. Open the Start menu and click the 7-Zip folder at the top of the application list. Then click 7-Zip File Manager to run the software.

2. Navigate to the folder containing several ZIP archives in the 7-Zip window.

3. Select multiple ZIP files to extract by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking them in 7-Zip.

4. Click Extract to display the extraction window.

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5. If you want to change the folder to include the extracted subfolders, click the ellipsis button. Then select another folder and click OK.

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6. Select OK to extract the selected ZIP archives.

This will extract all the selected ZIP archives into different subfolders. Those extracted subfolders will have the same name as the ZIP files you extracted. Close 7-Zip and then open the folder you selected to extract the archives to open the folders extracted from there.

"*" in 7-Zip's Extract window means the archives will be extracted to new folders. If you want to extract all selected archives into the same subfolder, remove "*" from the text box. Enter the new folder name at the end of the selected path. 7-Zip will then batch extract all the ZIP files into the new folder added in the Extract to box.

How to extract multiple ZIP archives simultaneously using ExtractNow

ExtractNow is freeware that is more specifically designed to extract multiple archives at once. You can batch extract ZIP and RAR archives, among others, on Windows platforms dating back to 1995 using this software. Here's how you can batch extract your ZIP files using ExtractNow:

1. Open the ExtractNow download page.

2. Click Download Now to save the ExtractNow installation file.

3. Double-click the extractnow.exe file to start the setup wizard.

4. Click I Agree for the software license terms.

5. Select Next twice more then click Install to complete.

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6. Click Close to open ExtractNow.

Now it's time to use the app:

1. Right-click inside the ExtractNow window and select Add archives .

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2. Select multiple ZIP archives by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking Open .

3. Click Extract to extract the ZIP files.

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4. Then click OK to All to extract the selected archives into subfolders whose titles match the ZIP files in the same folder. Alternatively, you can manually select another destination to extract each file in the Browse for Folder window and click OK.

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By default, this software will always ask you where to extract the file. However, you can change ExtractNow to automatically extract ZIP files without asking through its settings. To do so, click the Settings button and select the Destination tab . Then select the Automatically extract archives to button .

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If you want to set a location to always extract selected ZIPs, click the Browse for Folder button ; Select a folder in the Browse for Folder window and click OK . Then select OK on the Settings window to save the options.

In addition, ExtractNow also has a lot of other settings that you can configure.

Micah Soto

Update 19 October 2023