In this article, you'll learn how to extract the contents of a ZIP file without needing to use WinZip or other paid archivers. While ZIP files can be opened on most systems, extracting their contents requires a few simple steps. Both Windows and Mac OS X have built-in tools for unpacking archives, and there are free app alternatives to WinZip for iPhone and Android.
Windows
Step 1. Locate the ZIP file.
Navigate to the folder that contains your ZIP file.
- Inside the ZIP archive, files and folders are compressed, so they need to be extracted for access.
Step 2. Double-click the ZIP file.
Double-click the ZIP file to open it in File Explorer.
Step 3. Click on the "Extract" button.
Click on "Extract." This button is located in the Compressed Folder Tools section at the top of the window.
Step 4. Select "Extract All."
Click on "Extract All." This option will appear on the toolbar, and a pop-up window will open.
Step 5. Confirm extraction.
Click "Extract" at the bottom of the toolbar to start the extraction process.
- If needed, you can also select a different folder to save the extracted files by clicking "Browse."
Step 6. Open the extracted folder (if needed).
By default, the extracted folder with the same name as the archive will automatically open after extraction is complete. If it doesn't, double-click the folder to open it.
- You can now use the files in the extracted folder as usual.
Mac OS X
Step 1. Locate the ZIP file.
Go to the folder where your ZIP file is saved.
- Remember, files and folders in the ZIP archive are compressed and need to be extracted for use.
Step 2. Double-click the ZIP file.
Double-click the ZIP file to start the extraction process.
Step 3. Wait for extraction to finish.
Wait for the extraction process to complete. This may take from a few seconds to a few minutes.
Step 4. Open the extracted folder (if necessary).
If the folder did not open automatically after extraction, double-click it to open.
- The files inside the extracted folder are now available for use.
iPhone
Step 1. Install the iZip app.
Download iZip, a free app for unpacking ZIP files on your iPhone. To install iZip, follow these steps:
- Open the App Store {"smallUrl":"https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/5/55/Iphoneappstoreicon.png","bigUrl":"https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/55/Iphoneappstoreicon.png/30px-Iphoneappstoreicon.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":30,"bigHeight":30,"licensing":"","zoomWidth":30,"zoomHeight":30,"zoomUrl":"https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/55/Iphoneappstoreicon.png/30px-Iphoneappstoreicon.png"};
- Tap "Search" at the bottom of the screen;
- Type "izip" in the search bar;
- Tap "Search";
- Select "Download";
- Confirm with Touch ID or your Apple ID password.
Step 2. Move the ZIP file to the iZip app folder.
Move the ZIP archive to the iZip app folder, as it does not have access to all files on the iPhone:
- Open the "Files" app {"smallUrl":"https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/6/62/Iphonefilesapp01.png","bigUrl":"https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/62/Iphonefilesapp01.png/30px-Iphonefilesapp01.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":30,"bigHeight":30,"licensing":"","zoomWidth":30,"zoomHeight":30,"zoomUrl":"https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/62/Iphonefilesapp01.png/30px-Iphonefilesapp01.png"};
- Locate the ZIP file;
- Press and hold it until a menu appears;
- Select "Copy";
- Go to the iZip folder: tap "Browse" > "On My iPhone" > "iZip";
- Press and hold in an empty space and select "Paste."
Step 3. Open the iZip app.
Launch iZip by tapping its icon on your iPhone's home screen.
Step 4. Select "Files."
Choose "Files" at the top of the iZip main page to view the list of ZIP files in the iZip folder.
Step 5. Find your ZIP file.
Tap on your ZIP file to open it.
Step 6. Confirm extraction by tapping "OK."
Tap "OK" in the pop-up window. iZip will start the extraction process.
Step 7. Wait for the extraction to finish.
Wait for the extraction to complete, which may take a few seconds or minutes. The extracted folder will open automatically.
- If the folder doesn’t open, look for the folder in iZip that matches the archive's name.
Android Device
Step 1. Install ES File Explorer.
Install ES File Explorer, a free file manager for Android that allows you to unpack ZIP files. To install, follow these steps:
- Open the Play Store {"smallUrl":"https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/1/1e/Androidgoogleplay.png","bigUrl":"https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/1e/Androidgoogleplay.png/26px-Androidgoogleplay.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":531,"bigWidth":26,"bigHeight":30,"licensing":"","zoomWidth":26,"zoomHeight":30,"zoomUrl":"https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/1e/Androidgoogleplay.png/26px-Androidgoogleplay.png"};
- Enter "es file explorer" in the search bar;
- Select "ES File Explorer" from the results;
- Tap "Install" and confirm the action.
Step 2. Launch ES File Explorer.
Open the app by tapping "Open" in the Play Store or on the ES File Explorer app icon.
- If you’re opening the app for the first time, you’ll need to swipe through a few informational pages and tap "Get Started."
Step 3. Go to the "Download" folder.
Navigate to your device's main storage by selecting "Internal Storage" and open the "Download" folder, where your ZIP file is likely located.
- If the file is in another folder, locate it.
Step 4. Select your ZIP file.
Press and hold the ZIP file to check it in the bottom right corner of the icon.
Step 5. Tap on "More."
Tap the "..." (More) icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to open the menu.
Step 6. Select "Extract To."
Tap on "Extract To" in the menu that appears.
Step 7. Confirm extraction by tapping "OK."
When prompted, tap "OK." The contents of the ZIP file will be extracted to the current folder.
Step 8. Open the extracted folder.
Locate and open the folder named after your ZIP file. You can now view its contents.
