This wikiHow teaches you how to extract the contents of a ZIP folder without WinZip or any other paid program. While you can open the ZIP folder on any platform, extracting (or unzipping) the folder requires a few additional steps to allow you to use the files inside. Fortunately, both Windows and Mac have free built-in programs that can be used to extract files. Meanwhile, iPhone and Android device users can use a free non-WinZip app to open the folder.
Step
Method 1 of 4: On Windows Computer
Step 1. Locate the ZIP file
Go to the location where you want to extract the ZIP file.
Since ZIP files store ordinary files and folders in a compressed format, you will need to extract the ZIP files so that the contents stored in them can be used properly
Step 2. Double-click the ZIP file
After that, the file will be opened in a File Explorer window.
Step 3. Click Extract
This tab is below the pink " Compressed Folder Tools " heading at the top of the window. After that, the toolbar will be displayed under the tab “ Extract ”.
Step 4. Click Extract all
This button is on the toolbar. A pop-up window will appear after that.
Step 5. Click Extract
This option is at the bottom of the toolbar. The folder will be extracted immediately.
You can also click the “ Browse ” and select a different ZIP file content extraction folder if necessary.
Step 6. Open the extracted folder if necessary
By default, the extracted folder (a regular folder with the same name) will be opened after the extraction process is complete. Otherwise, double-click the extracted folder to open it as usual.
After extracting the ZIP folder, you can use the contents as usual
Method 2 of 4: On Mac Computer
Step 1. Locate the ZIP file
Go to the location where you want to extract the ZIP file.
Since ZIP files store ordinary files and folders in a compressed format, you will need to extract the ZIP files so that the contents stored in them can be used properly
Step 2. Double-click the ZIP file
After that, the ZIP file will be extracted automatically.
Step 3. Allow the ZIP file to be extracted to completion
This process can take a few seconds to a few minutes.
Step 4. Open the extracted folder if necessary
By default, the extracted folder (a regular folder with the same name) will be opened after the extraction process is complete. Otherwise, double-click the extracted folder to open it as usual.
Once the ZIP folder is extracted, you can use the contents as usual
Method 3 of 4: On iPhone
Step 1. Download iZip
iZip is a free program that can extract ZIP files on your iPhone. To download it, follow these steps:
-
open
Iphoneappstoreicon App Store on iPhone.
- Touch " Search ” at the bottom of the screen.
- Touch the search bar at the top of the screen.
- Type in zip, then touch “ Search ”.
- Touch " GET ”.
- Enter Touch ID (or Apple ID password) when prompted.
Step 2. Move the ZIP file to the iZip folder
Since iZip can't access the iPhone's file system, you'll need to manually move the ZIP file to the iZip folder:
-
Open the app
Iphonefilesapp01 Files on iPhone.
- Access the desired ZIP file.
- Touch and hold the ZIP file for one second, then release.
- Touch " Copy ” on the menu.
- Visit the iZip folder by touching the “ Browse ", choose " On My iPhone, and touch the option “ iZip ”.
- Touch and hold an empty space on the folder, release your finger, and touch “ Paste ”.
Step 3. Open iZip
Touch the iZip application icon on one of the device's home screens.
Step 4. Touch Files
It's at the top of the iZip main page. After that, a list of ZIP files stored in the " iZip " folder will be displayed.
Step 5. Touch the ZIP file
The file will open immediately. You can see the command displayed on the screen afterwards.
Step 6. Touch OK when prompted
Now iZip can extract the selected ZIP file.
Step 7. Wait until the extraction process is complete
This process can take a few seconds to a few minutes. When finished, the extracted folder will be opened.
If the extracted folder does not open automatically, tap the folder with the same name as the ZIP file name in the " iZip " folder
Method 4 of 4: On Android Device
Step 1. Download ES File Explorer
ES File Explorer is a free file manager app for Android that can extract ZIP files, as well as perform other functions. To download it, follow these steps:
-
open
Androidgoogleplay Google Play Store.
- Touch the search bar.
- Type es file.
- Touch " ES File Explorer File Manager ” in the drop-down list.
- Touch " INSTALL, then touch " ACCEPT ' when prompted.
Step 2. Open ES File Explorer
Touch OPEN ” in the Google Play Store window, or touch the ES File Explorer app icon on the device's page/app drawer.
You may need to scroll through the introduction pages and touch the “ START NOW ” if this is your first time opening ES File Explorer.
Step 3. Open the "Downloads" folder
Touch the Android device's primary storage location (eg. Internal Storage ”), then touch the folder “ Download The touched folder is the folder that usually/usually stores ZIP files.
If the ZIP file is stored in another folder, tap the folder where the ZIP file is stored
Step 4. Select the ZIP file
Press and hold on the ZIP file until a checkmark appears in the lower right corner of the ZIP file icon.
Step 5. Touch More
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen. After that, a pop-up menu will be displayed.
Step 6. Touch Extract to
This option is in the pop-up menu. After that, a new pop-up window will open.
Step 7. Touch OK when prompted
It's in the lower-right corner of the window. The ZIP file will be extracted to the currently active folder.
Step 8. Open the extracted folder
Touch the new folder with the same name as the ZIP file name. After that, the folder will be opened and you can see the contents inside.
