How to Unzip a File on Any Device: Easy Step-by-Step Guide

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Quick ways to open zip files on a computer, phone, or tablet

Written by Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: July 30, 2024 Fact Checked

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Windows

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Mac

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Linux

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iPhone/iPad

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Android

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Video

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Q&A

Did you download a file that ends with .ZIP? To access the files and folders inside, you'll need to unzip the file. You can easily unzip ZIP files using the built-in software on both Windows and Mac computers, and the file manager app on your Android, iPhone, or iPad. This wikiHow guide will teach you how to unzip a ZIP file on any device.

How to Unzip Files

To unzip on Windows, double-click the file, select "Extract All," select a folder, and then click "Extract." On a Mac, double-click the file to unzip it. On Linux, use "unzip filename.zip" to unzip the file.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Windows

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This displays the contents in a File Explorer window.
On Windows 10, the icon looks like a folder with a zipper and four blue squares near the top of the window. On Windows 11, you'll see Extract All in the toolbar.

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It's at the bottom-left corner of the window. This makes it so you'll be taken to the unzipped files as soon as they are unzipped.
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Select a folder to unzip to. If you want to place the unzipped files in a location other than the current folder in which the ZIP folder is stored, do the following:
- Click Browse... on the right side of the window.
- Click the name of the folder where you want to store the unzipped folder.
- Click Select Folder.
It's at the bottom of the window. This extracts the ZIP file's contents to an unzipped folder in the selected location. Now, you can work with the files inside the folder.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Mac

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1
Copy the ZIP file to a different location (optional). When you unzip a file, the contents will be extracted to the same folder as the ZIP file. If you want to extract the contents somewhere else, you can move the ZIP file before unzipping. Here's how:
- Click the ZIP file to select it.
- Click Edit on the upper-left side of the screen.
- Click Copy in the drop-down menu.
- Go to the folder where you want to store the ZIP folder.
- Click Edit again, then click Paste.
The contents of the ZIP will now be extracted to a new folder in the current folder. When the files are unzipped, the folder containing your files will appear.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Linux

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Click the Terminal app icon on your desktop or press Ctrl + Alt + T to open one now.
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Switch to the ZIP file directory. Type cd and a space, type the path to the folder where the ZIP is located, and press Enter.
- For example, if the ZIP file is in the "Downloads" directory, you would enter cd Downloads into Terminal.
- If the ZIP file is in a folder called "ZIP" inside the "Downloads" folder, you would need to enter cd Downloads/ZIP.
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Enter the "unzip" command. Type in unzip file.zip where file is the file's name, then press Enter to run it. This extracts the files to the current directory.
- If the file's name has spaces in it, you'll place quotation marks on either side of "file.zip" (e.g., unzip "this is a zipped folder.zip").
- The Linux unzip command doesn't create a new folder for the unzipped files.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

iPhone/iPad

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It's the blue icon labeled "Files" in your app list. You can also find it by swiping right across the home screen until you reach the "App Library" screen and tapping the Productivity & Finance folder.^{[1]
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If the file is on your iPhone, for example, tap On My iPhone. And if it's saved in a certain folder, tap that folder to open it now.
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Tap the ZIP file. This instantly creates a folder containing the contents of the ZIP file.
- You can rename this folder if you'd like. Tap and hold the folder and select Rename to do so.
This displays the contents of the ZIP file.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Android

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1
Install the Files by Google app on your Android. If you already have the "Files" app in your app drawer, you can open it now. However, some Androids come with different "Files" apps, and they may not be able to unzip files. Here's how to install Google's official Files app:
- Open the Play Store.
- Type files by google into the search bar.
- Tap Files by Google in the search results.
- Tap Install to download the app. If you already have the app, you won't see this option—you'll see Open instead.
It's the blue folder icon with a turned-down corner that's several different colors.^{[2]
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It's the folder icon with a magnifying glass.
For example, if it's in your Downloads folder, select that folder.
A pop-up will appear, showing you what's inside the file.
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Tap Extract. This extracts the files from the compressed ZIP file and displays a preview.
- If you want to delete the ZIP file after decompressing the file, check the box next to "Delete ZIP file" now.
The contents of the ZIP file are now extracted to the current folder.

Community Q&A

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Question

What about for an Android? I can't figure it out.

Mykhaylo

Community Answer

If you have an android phone, you can download the RAR program from the Play Store. When you finish your download, open your RAR program and find the ZIP file that you want to Unzip, then hold your finger on the file and a popup screen will show up. Press Extract Here or Extract Files and you are done!

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Question

How do I unzip a file on my phone?

Community Answer

It depends on what kind of phone you have. However, if you have an iPhone, you cannot unzip a file without jail breaking your iPhone or voiding the warranty. .zip files are compressed files that have a lossless compression (which is why they are so popular for image transfer). The de-compression program that's in OSX+ is not an ideal program to include in iOS from Apple's perspective (because they want you to buy an iPhone AND a Macbook), so getting a de-compressor application in your iPhone without jail breaking it and forcing it into the file system is practically impossible.

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Question

How do I do it on a Mac?

Community Answer

Open it, and drag the stuff inside of it out into a new folder.

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