This wikiHow teaches you how to extract (or "unzip") the contents of a ZIP folder. Once the ZIP folder is extracted, you should be able to properly open and run the files it contains. You can use the Windows or Mac computer's built-in program to extract the ZIP folder.
Step
Method 1 of 5: On Windows
Step 1. Double-click the ZIP file
The File Explorer window will display the contents of the folder.
Step 2. Click Extract all
The icon is a folder with a zipper and 4 blue squares at the top of the window.
Step 3. Check the box next to "Show extracted files when complete"
It's in the lower-left corner of the page. Doing so will open the page containing the extracted zip file after you extract it.
Step 4. Specify a folder to place the files to be extracted
If you want to place the extracted files in a different location than the original ZIP folder, follow the steps below:
- Click Browse… which is on the right side of the window.
- Click the folder you want to use to save the files to be extracted.
- Click button Select Folder.
Step 5. Click Extract
You'll find this option at the bottom of the window. The contents of the ZIP file will be extracted and placed in the folder you selected. Now you can handle the files in that folder.
Method 2 of 5: On Mac
Step 1. Copy the ZIP folder to another place (optional)
When the file is extracted later, the contents of the file will be extracted into the same folder as the original ZIP file. If you want to extract the contents to another location, copy the ZIP file before you extract it. How to do it:
- Click the ZIP folder once to select it.
- Click Edit which is in the upper left corner.
- Click Copy in the drop-down menu.
- Open the folder where you want to save the ZIP folder.
- Click Edit, then select Paste.
Step 2. Click the ZIP folder 2 times
The contents of the ZIP file will begin to be extracted into the new folder that is currently open. Once the extraction is complete, the files contained in the ZIP will be displayed.
Method 3 of 5: On Linux
Step 1. Open a terminal
Run the program by clicking on the Terminal icon on the desktop, or by pressing the key Ctrl+Alt+T.
Step 2. Switch to the ZIP file directory
Type in cd and press the space key, type in the path to the folder used to save the ZIP file, then press the key Enter.
- For example, if the ZIP file is stored in the " Downloads " directory, type cd Downloads into Terminal.
- If the ZIP file is in a folder called "ZIP" within the "Downloads" folder, you'll need to type cd /home/name/Downloads/ZIP (replace "name" with your username).
Step 3. Enter “unzip” command
Type in unzip file.zip, and replace "file" with the name of the folder. Next, run the command by pressing the button Enter. This will extract the files into the current directory.
- If there is a space in the file name, you must quote left and right "file.zip" (for example, type unzip "this is my folder.zip").
- The unzip command in Linux will not create a new folder for the extracted files.
Method 4 of 5: On iPhone/iPad
Step 1. Run Files
The app icon is blue with " Files " in the list of apps. You can also access it by swiping the home screen to the right until you get to the " App Library " screen and touching the folder Productivity & Finance.
Step 2. Open the folder where the ZIP file is saved
For example, if the file is on your iPhone, touch On My iPhone. If the file is stored in another folder, touch the folder to open it.
Step 3. Touch the ZIP file
This will automatically create a folder containing the contents of the ZIP file.
If you want, you can rename the folder. You can do this by touching and holding the folder, then selecting Rename.
Step 4. Touch the folder to open it
The contents of the ZIP file will be displayed in this folder.
Method 5 of 5: On Android Devices
Step 1. Install the Files by Google app on the Android device
If there is already a " Files " app in the app drawer, you can open it now. However, some Android devices also come with a different " Files " application, which may not be able to extract files. Follow these steps to install official Files from Google:
- Open the Play Store.
- Type files by google into the search field.
- Touch Files by Google in search results.
- Download the app by touching Install. If you have the app installed on your device, this option will not appear. Instead, you will find the button Open.
Step 2. Run Files by Google
The icon is a blue folder with one corner bent down in several different colors.
Step 3. Touch Browse
The icon is a folder with a magnifying glass.
Step 4. Open the folder used to save the ZIP file
For example, if the file is in the folder Downloads, select this folder.
Step 5. Touch the ZIP file
This will bring up a pop-up, showing the contents of the file.
Step 6. Touch Extract
The ZIP file will be extracted, and the device screen will show a preview.
If you want to delete the ZIP file after extracting it, check the box next to "Delete ZIP file"
Step 7. Touch Done
The contents of the ZIP file have now been extracted to the folder you currently have open.
