How to Unzip Files in Linux

This wikiHow teaches you how to unzip a compressed folder in Linux by using the Terminal command line. Locate your zipped folder. If it's in the Documents directory, for example, you'll open your Documents folder.
Part 1 of 2:

Unzipping One Folder

  1. How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 1How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 1
    Locate your zipped folder. If it's in the Documents directory, for example, you'll open your Documents folder.
  2. How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 2How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 2
    Note the name of the zipped folder. You'll need to enter the zipped folder's name exactly as it appears on the folder here.
    1. Remember to take into account pacing and capitalization.
  3. How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 3How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 3
    Click Menu. It's in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  4. How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 4How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 4
    Click the Terminal icon. This icon is a black box with a white ">_" on it. You should see Terminal either in the bar on the left side of the Menu window, or in the group of programs listed in the Menu window.
    1. You can also search for Terminal by clicking the search bar at the top of the Menu window and then typing in terminal.
  5. How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 5How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 5
    Type unzip filename.zip into Terminal. You'll replace the "filename" part of the command with your zipped folder's name.
    1. For example, if your folder is named "BaNaNa", you'd type unzip BaNaNa.zip into Terminal.
  6. How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 6How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 6
    Press Enter. Doing so will run your command and unzip your selected folder.
Part 2 of 2:

Unzipping All Zipped Folders in a Folder

  1. How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 7How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 7
    Navigate to the zipped folders' directory. To do this, you'll simply open the folder in which your zipped folders are stored.
    1. Attempting to run the "unzip" command on all folders from you current directory could result in accidentally unzipping folders you didn't mean to unzip.
  2. How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 8How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 8
    Type pwd into Terminal and press Enter. This will run the "pwd" command, which will display your current directory's name.[1]
    1. This step is simply to ensure that you're in the right place before unzipping.
  3. How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 9How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 9
    Type unzip "*.zip" into Terminal. This command searches for any folders in your current directory with the ".zip" file extension.
    1. Placing quotation marks around the *.zip part of this command contains the command to the current directory.
  4. How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 10How to Unzip Files in Linux Picture 10
    Press Enter. Doing so will run the command and unzip your folders. You'll be able to view their contents in the directory in which they are located.
    1. If this command doesn't work, try instead typing unzip /*zip into Terminal.
3.5 ★ | 2 Vote