Easy 5 Step to Open ZIP Files on Windows – The Complete Guide

Open ZIP Files on Windows is one of the oldest file formats commonly used to compress files. It reduces the total size of the files in order to free up storage space. In the past, you would need third-party apps to unzip archives on Windows. But the newer versions allow you to unzip files with a few simple clicks. Here’s how to open ZIP files on Windows.

How to View a ZIP File on Windows

In some cases, you may want to check out what’s in the ZIP file prior to unzipping it. Back in the day, you would need to have a third-party program to accomplish this simple thing. Now, you can view the file just by double-clicking the ZIP archive.

Although you can view the file, you won’t be able to use them unless you unzip them. If you don’t, any changes you make to the file won’t be able to be saved, and attempting to run an installation file won’t result in a proper operation.

Open ZIP Files on Windows

You can open a ZIP file on Windows in two ways. Yet, it depends on whether you would like to decompress the entire contents of the archive or just a particular file. Let’s start with the former first, and here is the guide on how to open ZIP files on Windows to follow.

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1. Locate the ZIP archive you want to decompress and right-click it.
2. Click on “Extract All” in the drop-down menu that appears. You may also open the file by double-clicking it. Then, select “Extract All” right in the top-right of File Explorer.
3. You will see a dialogue box that prompts you to choose where you want to put the extracted files. If you want to change the location, click on “Browse.” It will launch File Explorer.
4. On File Explorer, choose the destination where you want to extract the files. Then, click on “Select Folder.”
5. Click on “Extract,” and the files will automatically be extracted to the selected folder. This process takes time, depending on the amount and size of the entire file.

Read Also : Open Zip File On Mac OS

How to Unzip a Specific File On Windows

Below is the step-by-step on how to open ZIP files on Windows if you only want to extract particular files.

1. First, locate the ZIP archive you want to open and double-click it.
2. On a new folder, you will see the individual files compressed in the ZIP archive.
3. Choose the files you would like to unzip, and you will find a checkmark on the left side of the selected files.
4. When you are done, drag the selected files into another location, like on your desktop.
5. The copies of the files are now moved to the new location and are ready to be used.

That’s how to open  ZIP files on Windows. Windows’ built-in file extractor features are sufficient for those who don’t frequently deal with ZIP archives. If it’s the other way around, you may want to consider utilizing a third-party extractor program.

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