This article explains how to open and decompress a compressed archive in ZIP format using a computer, smartphone or tablet. ZIP files are used to group data so that they take up less disk space and are easier to transfer and share. In order to view and use the contents of a ZIP file, it must first be decompressed, returning it to its original state.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Windows
Step 1. Make sure your operating system is configured to use the "File Explorer" app to manage files compressed in ZIP format
If you have installed on your computer a program such as 7zip or WinRAR, depending on the configuration you have chosen, the ZIP files may be opened automatically with this software instead of with the "File Explorer" app. This is a useless step, as Windows is able to natively open and decompress files in ZIP format. You can restore the default program used to manage ZIP files by following these instructions:
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Access the "Start" menu by clicking on the icon
Windowsstart ;
- Type in keywords choose an app;
- Click on the item Choose a default app for each file type;
- Scroll down the list until you find the ".zip" file extension displayed at the bottom of the page;
- Click on the program name displayed to the right of the ".zip" file extension, then click on the option File Explorer.
Step 2. Access the ZIP file
Open the folder where the ZIP file you want to unzip is stored.
Step 3. Double-click the ZIP file
In this way, the list of files present in the compressed archive will be displayed.
- If you need to view only the elements present in the ZIP archive, without unzipping it, you can stop at this point.
- If viewed only, the contents of the ZIP archive may appear different than when it is extracted.
Step 4. Click on the Extract tab
It is located at the top of the window. The corresponding toolbar will be displayed.
Step 5. Click the Extract All button
It is one of the options in the toolbar of the "Extract" tab. A pop-up will appear.
Step 6. Select the folder to extract the data to, if necessary
By default, the contents of the ZIP archive will be unzipped into the same folder where it is stored; for example, if the ZIP file is on the desktop, its contents will be displayed on the desktop. If you need the content to be extracted to a different folder, follow these instructions:
- Click on the button Browse …, located on the right of the text field displayed in the center of the window;
- Select the destination folder;
- Click on the button Folder selection, located in the lower right corner of the window.
Step 7. Select the check button "Show extracted files when done"
It is located in the center of the "Extract compressed folders" pop-up. This way, you can be sure that the contents of the ZIP archive will be displayed automatically after the file decompression process is complete.
Step 8. Click the Extract button
It is located at the bottom of the window. The contents of the ZIP archive will be extracted to the specified folder. At the end of this operation, you will be able to access the new folder and consult its contents as you normally do.
Method 2 of 4: Mac
Step 1. Access the ZIP file
Open the folder where the ZIP file you want to unzip is stored.
Step 2. Move the ZIP file if necessary
The contents of the compressed archive will be automatically extracted and stored in the same starting folder. If you need to move the ZIP file to a directory other than the current one, follow these instructions:
- Click the ZIP file icon once to select it;
- Click on the menu Edit, visible at the top of the screen;
- Click on the option Copy of the menu appeared;
- Go to the folder where you want to extract the contents of the ZIP file;
- Click on the menu Edit, then select the option Paste.
Step 3. Double-click the ZIP file icon
The contents of the compressed archive will be automatically extracted to the current directory.
Step 4. Wait for the contents of the folder you just extracted to appear
When the file decompression procedure is finished, the contents of the folder extracted from the ZIP archive will be displayed.
Method 3 of 4: iPhone
Step 1. Download the Unzip app
It is a program that allows you to view and extract the files contained in a compressed archive in ZIP format. It's a free app that you can download directly from the App Store:
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Login to App Store iPhone by tapping the corresponding icon
Iphoneappstoreicon ;
- Select the tab Search for;
- Tap the search bar located at the top of the screen;
- Type in the keyword unzip, then press the button Search for;
- Push the button Get, placed on the right of the text "Unzip - zip file opener";
- Authenticate using Touch ID, Face ID, or by entering your Apple ID password when prompted.
Step 2. Navigate to the location where the ZIP file to be decompressed is stored
Start the app or go to the folder where the ZIP archive in question is located. The procedure to follow varies based on the location of the file, but you should normally find the ZIP archive in one of these locations:
- Email - launch the app you use to manage email (for example Gmail or Mail), select the message with which the ZIP file was sent, then scroll through it to find the archive name.
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File - launch the app File by touching the corresponding icon
Iphonefilesapp01 select the tab Browse, then tap the folder where the ZIP file is stored (to get to the location where the ZIP file is stored, you may need to access several folders).
Step 3. Select the ZIP file
The contents of the ZIP archive will be previewed.
Step 4. Tap the "Share" icon
Normally, it is visible in the lower or upper right corner of the screen. A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen.
Step 5. Scroll the menu that appeared to the right to be able to select the Copy to Unzip option
It is listed in the first row of menu icons. This will launch the Unzip app which will have access to the ZIP file.
Step 6. Tap the name of the ZIP archive
It should be visible in the center of the Unzip app screen. The contents of the ZIP file will be automatically extracted to a normal folder that will have the same name as the original file.
Unfortunately, the Unzip app does not allow you to view the contents of a compressed archive in ZIP format without first unzipping it
Step 7. Select the folder you extracted from the ZIP file
It has a yellow icon and will have the same name as the original ZIP file. This way, you will be able to access the contents of the ZIP archive.
Method 4 of 4: Android
Step 1. Download the ZIP archive to your device if needed
If the ZIP file you want to unzip is not yet on your device, you will need to download it now by selecting the appropriate link. The file will be stored in the "Download" folder of the Android device.
- If the ZIP file is stored on Google Drive, press and hold the corresponding icon, then select the option Download from the menu that will appear.
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If the ZIP archive was sent to you as an attachment on Gmail, tap the "Download" icon
Android7download placed next to the file name in the email.
Step 2. Download the WinZip app
This is a free application, necessary to be able to extract the contents of a compressed archive in ZIP format:
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Log in to Google Play Store by touching this icon
Androidgoogleplay ;
- Select the search bar;
- Type in the winzip keyword;
- Select the app WinZip - Zip UnZip Tool from the list of results that appeared;
- Push the button Install.
Step 3. Launch the WinZip app
Push the button You open displayed on the Play Store page of the WinZip app or tap the corresponding icon that appears in the "Applications" panel of the device.
Step 4. Press the Allow button when prompted
In this way, you will authorize the WinZip app to have access to the files present in the internal memory of the device.
Step 5. Scroll right and press the START button
Scroll through the screens of the initial tutorial of the application to be able to view and press the button Start.
Step 6. Select the default memory drive
Based on where you saved the ZIP file to unzip, you will need to select the option Internal to access the internal memory of the device or SD card (or similar) to access the SD card installed in the device.
Step 7. Navigate to the folder where the ZIP archive is stored
This is the directory where the compressed archive you downloaded is located.
You may need to scroll down the list to be able to select the correct folder
Step 8. Select the ZIP file
Identify within the current folder, then select the corresponding check button to the right of the name.
Step 9. Tap the "Unzip" icon
It is located at the top of the screen, next to an unselected check button and has a square with a zip inside it. A pop-up will appear.
Step 10. Select the folder to store the files that will be extracted from the ZIP archive
Select the option Storage, choose the voice you prefer (for example Internal, if you want to use the internal memory of the device), then select the folder where you want to extract the ZIP file.
Step 11. Press the Unzip here button
It is located at the bottom of the screen. The contents of the ZIP archive will be extracted to the folder you indicated, where you should be able to review and use it as you wish.
