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How to Open a Zip File

This wikiHow teaches you how to open and extract a ZIP folder on your computer, smartphone, or tablet. ZIP folders are used to compress files into smaller versions, making them easier to store and transport. In order to view and use a ZIP...
Method 1 of 4:

On Windows

  1. How to Open a Zip File Picture 1How to Open a Zip File Picture 1
    Make sure Windows uses File Explorer to open ZIP folders. If you've installed a program such as 7zip or WinRAR on your computer, your ZIP folders may open in them instead of in File Explorer, which is unnecessary since Windows can both open and unzip ZIP folders. You can reset the program used for ZIP folders by doing the following:
    1. Open Start
      How to Open a Zip File Picture 2How to Open a Zip File Picture 2
      .
    2. Type in choose a default app.
    3. Click Choose a default app for each type of file.
    4. Scroll down to the ".zip" heading near the bottom of the page.
    5. Click the program to the right of the ".zip" heading, then click Windows Explorer.
  2. How to Open a Zip File Picture 3How to Open a Zip File Picture 3
    Go to the ZIP folder. Open the location in which the ZIP folder that you want to open is located.
  3. How to Open a Zip File Picture 4How to Open a Zip File Picture 4
    Double-click the ZIP folder. Doing so opens the ZIP folder. You should see the contents of the ZIP folder here.
    1. If you just want to view the ZIP folder's compressed contents, you can stop here.
    2. The contents of the ZIP folder may appear different when compressed than when you extract them.
  4. How to Open a Zip File Picture 5How to Open a Zip File Picture 5
    Click the Extract tab. It's at the top of the window. Doing so prompts a toolbar to appear at the top of the window.
  5. How to Open a Zip File Picture 6How to Open a Zip File Picture 6
    Click Extract all. This is in the toolbar at the top of the window. Clicking it prompts a pop-up window.
  6. How to Open a Zip File Picture 7How to Open a Zip File Picture 7
    Select an extraction location if necessary. By default, your ZIP folder will extract its contents to the same folder in which it is located (e.g., if the ZIP folder is on the Desktop, the extracted folder will also appear on the desktop). If you want to extract the folder to a different location, do the following:
    1. Click Browse... to the right of the text box in the middle of the window.
    2. Select a folder.
    3. Click Select Folder in the bottom-right corner.
  7. How to Open a Zip File Picture 8How to Open a Zip File Picture 8
    Check the "Show extracted files when complete" box. This is in the middle of the window. Selecting this option ensures that the ZIP folder's extracted contents will be displayed as soon as you finish extracting them.
  8. How to Open a Zip File Picture 9How to Open a Zip File Picture 9
    Click Extract. It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so extracts the ZIP folder's files into a regular folder; once the extraction is complete, the regular folder will open to display the files.
Method 2 of 4:

On Mac

  1. How to Open a Zip File Picture 10How to Open a Zip File Picture 10
    Go to the ZIP folder. Open the location in which the ZIP folder that you want to open is located.
  2. How to Open a Zip File Picture 11How to Open a Zip File Picture 11
    Move the ZIP folder if necessary. The ZIP folder's contents will automatically extract to the folder in which the ZIP folder is located. To copy the ZIP folder to a different location, do the following:
    1. Click once the ZIP folder to select it.
    2. Click Edit at the top of the screen.
    3. Click Copy in the drop-down menu.
    4. Go to the folder in which you want to extract the folder.
    5. Click Edit, then click Paste in the drop-down menu.
  3. How to Open a Zip File Picture 12How to Open a Zip File Picture 12
    Double-click the ZIP folder. Doing so will prompt the ZIP folder to begin extracting into a regular folder in your current location.
  4. How to Open a Zip File Picture 13How to Open a Zip File Picture 13
    Wait for the extracted folder to open. Once the ZIP folder finishes extracting, the regular folder to which it extracted will open to display the extracted files.
Method 3 of 4:

On iPhone

  1. How to Open a Zip File Picture 14How to Open a Zip File Picture 14
    Download the Unzip app. This app, which allows you to extract and view ZIP folders' compressed files, is free in the App Store:
    1. Open your iPhone's
      How to Open a Zip File Picture 15How to Open a Zip File Picture 15
      App Store.
    2. Tap Search.
    3. Tap the search bar at the top of the screen.
    4. Type in unzip, then tap Search.
    5. Tap GET to the right of the "Unzip - zip file opener" heading.
    6. Enter your Touch ID, Face ID, or Apple ID password when prompted.
  2. How to Open a Zip File Picture 16How to Open a Zip File Picture 16
    Find your ZIP folder. Open the app or location in which your ZIP folder is stored. This step will vary, but common locations for ZIP folders on an iPhone include the following:
    1. Email — Open your email app (e.g., Gmail or Mail), select the email in which the ZIP folder is stored, and scroll down if necessary to view the ZIP folder's name.
    2. Files — Tap the
      How to Open a Zip File Picture 17How to Open a Zip File Picture 17
      Files app icon, tap Browse, tap the location in which the ZIP folder is located (you may have to navigate through a few different folders).
  3. How to Open a Zip File Picture 18How to Open a Zip File Picture 18
    Tap the ZIP folder. Doing so will open the ZIP folder's preview.
  4. How to Open a Zip File Picture 19How to Open a Zip File Picture 19
    Tap the "Share"
    How to Open a Zip File Picture 20How to Open a Zip File Picture 20
    icon. It's usually in the bottom-right or top-right corner of the screen. This will bring up a menu at the bottom of the screen.
  5. How to Open a Zip File Picture 21How to Open a Zip File Picture 21
    Scroll right and tap Copy to Unzip. You'll find this in the menu's top row of apps. Doing so opens the Unzip app with your ZIP folder in it.
  6. How to Open a Zip File Picture 22How to Open a Zip File Picture 22
    Tap your ZIP folder's name. You should see it in the middle of Unzip. This will automatically extract the ZIP folder's contents to a regular folder of the same name.
    1. Unfortunately, Unzip doesn't allow you to view the ZIP folder's files without extracting them.
  7. How to Open a Zip File Picture 23How to Open a Zip File Picture 23
    Tap the unzipped folder. It's a yellow item with the same name as your ZIP folder. Doing so opens the folder to display your ZIP folder's formerly compressed files.
Method 4 of 4:

On Android

  1. How to Open a Zip File Picture 24How to Open a Zip File Picture 24
    Download the ZIP folder if necessary. If the ZIP folder isn't already on your Android, you should be able to download it by going to its location and tapping its download link. This will place the ZIP folder in your Android's "Download" folder.
    1. If the ZIP folder is in Google Drive, long-press the ZIP folder, then tap Download in the resulting menu.
    2. If the ZIP folder is in Gmail, tap the "Download"
      How to Open a Zip File Picture 25How to Open a Zip File Picture 25
      icon next to the folder's name in the email.
  2. How to Open a Zip File Picture 26How to Open a Zip File Picture 26
    Download the WinZip app. You can download the free WinZip app in order to find and extract your ZIP folder:
    1. Open the
      How to Open a Zip File Picture 27How to Open a Zip File Picture 27
      Google Play Store.
    2. Tap the search bar.
    3. Type in winzip.
    4. Tap WinZip - Zip UnZip Tool in the drop-down results.
    5. Tap INSTALL.
  3. How to Open a Zip File Picture 28How to Open a Zip File Picture 28
    Open WinZip. Tap OPEN on the WinZip page, or tap the WinZip app icon in your Android's App Drawer.
  4. How to Open a Zip File Picture 29How to Open a Zip File Picture 29
    Tap ALLOW when prompted. Doing so lets WinZip access your Android's files.
  5. How to Open a Zip File Picture 30How to Open a Zip File Picture 30
    Scroll right and tap START. You'll have to scroll through four screens to get to the START button.
  6. How to Open a Zip File Picture 31How to Open a Zip File Picture 31
    Select your default storage. Depending on the ZIP folder's location, you'll either tap Internal to select your Android's internal storage or tap SD card (or similar) to access your Android's SD card if available.
  7. How to Open a Zip File Picture 32How to Open a Zip File Picture 32
    Open the ZIP folder's location. Go to the folder in which you've saved the ZIP folder.
    1. You may have to scroll down to find the correct folder.
  8. How to Open a Zip File Picture 33How to Open a Zip File Picture 33
    Select the ZIP folder. Find the ZIP folder in the current location, then tap once the checkbox to the right of its name to select it.
  9. How to Open a Zip File Picture 34How to Open a Zip File Picture 34
    Tap the "Unzip" icon. It's a box with a zipper on it at the top of the screen, just left of the empty checkbox. A pop-up menu will appear.
  10. How to Open a Zip File Picture 35How to Open a Zip File Picture 35
    Select a folder in which to store the unzipped folder. Tap Storage, tap your preferred storage option (e.g., Internal), and tap a folder in which you want to extract the ZIP folder.
  11. How to Open a Zip File Picture 36How to Open a Zip File Picture 36
    Tap UNZIP HERE. It's at the bottom of the screen. Doing so extracts the ZIP folder's files into your selected folder from which point you should be able to open them.
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