How to Extract Zip Files On Windows, Mac, iPhone & Andriod

This tips teaches you how to move files from a compressed, or "ZIP", folder into an ordinary, uncompressed folder on your computer. Compressed files are typically unusable until you extract them from their ZIP folder. Keep in mind that ZIP folders are different than other types of compression (e.g., RAR files) in that they don't require special software in order to be opened on a computer. If you want to extract ZIP files on an iPhone or an Android, you'll need to download an app that can extract the files for you.

Method One of Four:
On Windows

1. 
   1
   Locate your ZIP folder. If you downloaded it from online, you'll find it in your browser's default "downloads" folder (e.g., the Downloads folder or your desktop).
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2. 
   2
   Double-click the ZIP folder. Doing so will open it.
3. 
   3
   Click Extract. This tab is at the top of the ZIP folder's window. A toolbar will appear below the Extract tab.
4. 
   4
   Click Extract all. It's in the Extracttoolbar. A pop-up window will appear.
5. 
   5
   Click Browse…. This option is to the right of the address bar near the top of the "Extract Compressed (Zipped) Files" window.

   • Skip this step and the next one if you want your files to extract into the same location as the ZIP folder. Doing so will create a new, regular folder for your files.
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6. 
   6
   Select a destination folder. Click a folder's name (e.g., Desktop) in the left-hand pane to select it as the location in which the uncompressed files will be stored.
7. 
   7
   Click Select Folder. It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so returns you to the "Extract Compressed (Zipped) Files" window.
8. 
   8
   Click Extract. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. Your files will extract from the ZIP folder to your selected location.

   • The amount of time it takes your files to finish extracting will depend on your computer's speed and the size of the ZIP folder.
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Method Two of Four:
On Mac

1. 
   1
   Locate your ZIP folder. If you downloaded it from online, it's likely in your "Downloads" folder, to which you can navigate by opening Finder and then clicking the Downloads folder on the left side of the window.
2. 
   2
   Move your ZIP folder if necessary.When you extract the files from your ZIP folder, they will appear in an ordinary folder in the same location as the ZIP folder currently resides. You can move your folder by clicking and dragging it into a different location (e.g., your desktop).

   • For example, extracting from the ZIP folder on the desktop will place the unzipped folder on the desktop as well.
   • You can also move your ZIP folder by selecting it, pressing ⌘ Command+Xto "cut" it, going to the place where you want to extract your files, and pressing ⌘ Command+V to paste it there.
3. 
   3
   Double-click your ZIP folder. Its contents will begin extracting to the current folder.
4. 
   4
   Wait for your files to finish extracting.Depending on the size of the ZIP folder, this process' length will vary. When your files are done extracting, they will be in a typical, blue folder in the same folder—and with the same name—as the ZIP folder.

   • You can open the new folder by double-clicking it.
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Method Three of Four:
On iPhone

1. 
   1
   Download iZip. Open your iPhone's 

   

    App Store, then do the following:

   • Tap Search
   • Tap the search bar.
   • Type in izip and tap Search
   • Tap GET to the right of "iZip"
   • Enter your Apple ID or Touch ID when prompted.
2. 
   2
   Open a ZIP folder. Go to the location of the ZIP folder (e.g., an email) and tap the ZIP folder.

   • You cannot use iZip to extract files from a ZIP folder that's stored in the iPhone's Files app.
3. 
   3
   Tap the "Share" 

   

    icon. It's usually in one of the corners of your iPhone's screen. Doing so prompts a pop-up menu to open.

   • If you're opening the ZIP folder from Google Drive, you'll instead tap ⋯ and then tap Open in.
4. 
   4
   Tap Copy to iZip. You'll find this option in the pop-up menu, though you may have to scroll right over the top row of options in order to find the Copy to iZipoption. This will open the ZIP folder in iZip.
5. 
   5
   Tap OK. It's on the "Would you like to extract all files?" prompt. This will prompt the files to extract into their own folder in iZip; once the extraction is complete, the folder will open to display the extracted files.

   • If you aren't prompted to extract all files, first tap Extract in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
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Method Four of Four:
On Android

1. 
   1
   Download WinZip. Open your Android's

   

    Google Play Store and do the following:

   • Tap the search bar.
   • Type in winzip
   • Tap WinZip - Zip UnZip Tool
   • Tap INSTALL
   • Tap ACCEPT when prompted.
2. 
   2
   Download the ZIP file onto your Android. This will typically be accomplished by opening the service in which the file is saved (e.g., an email in Gmail) and tapping the Download 

   

   button.
3. 
   3
   Open WinZip. Tap the WinZip app icon, which resembles a folder with a vice grip wrapped around it.

   • If this is your first time opening WinZip on your Android, you'll have to swipe through a few introductory pages and then tap Start.
4. 
   4
   Select your default storage option.Under most circumstances, you'll tap either SD card or Internal storage (or similar) here.
5. 
   5
   Tap the Downloads folder. You'll find this option in the "D" section of your selected storage option.

   • You may have to scroll down a bit to find this folder.
6. 
   6
   Select your ZIP folder. Tap the checkbox to the right of your ZIP folder's name.
7. 
   7
   Tap the "Unzip" icon. It's a zipper-shaped icon in the upper-right corner of the screen. A pop-up menu will appear.
8. 
   8
   Select a save location. Tap a main location (e.g., Storage), then select a folder inside of that location in which you want to save your extracted ZIP files.
9. 
   9
   Tap UNIZP HERE. It's a blue button in the bottom-right corner of the screen. This will prompt the files to extract into their own folder in your selected storage location.

   • Once the extraction is complete, the folder will open to display the extracted files.
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Tips

• All versions of Windows and Mac have built-in ZIP folder extraction software.
• WinZip is free, though you optionally can pay for an upgraded version that has Google Drive support.

Warnings

• ZIP folders are different than RAR, ISO, 7Z, and other types of compressed folders. The methods in this article may not work for decompressing folders other than actual ZIP folders.