This will create a zipped file in the same directory that the files are located. The file extension will be.zip. Note: The new.zip file will have the same name as the file or folder you compressed. If you compress multiple items, the file name will be the same as the file you right-clicked to start the compression. Decompressing a zipped file. A ZIP file is an archive that contains one or more files compressed or 'zipped' using Zip compression.It stores files separately from each other allowing the files to be compressed using different methods and extracted without compressing or decompressing the entire archive.
- How to decompress a file in Windows.
- Decompress a file in MS-DOS or the Windows command line.
- How to decompress a compressed file in Linux and Unix.
How to decompress a file in Windows
Before extracting the data from a compressed file, you must first determine the compressed file type. On an IBM compatible computer running Windows, this can be determined by the file extension. Most compressed files are either .ZIP, .RAR, .GZ, or .TGZ files. Below are examples of what some of the different compressed icons look like in Microsoft Windows.
Once the compressed file type is determined, use the appropriate program. For example, many users use WinZip and Pkzip to extract ZIP files and WinRAR to extract RAR files in Windows. However, we recommend Windows users use 7-Zip since this program is free, open source, and supports all major compressed file formats.
Note7-Zip is capable of opening most of the more common types of compressed files, including .ZIP, .GZ, .TAR, .WIM , and .XZ
TipIf you are using MicrosoftWindows XP, Vista, 7, or later, your computer should already be cable of extracting the contents of ZIP files.
TipIf you do not want to or cannot install a program on your computer, you can also compress and decompress files online.
Once a compression program is installed on the computer, you can extract the contents from the compressed file. Below are some basic steps on how you can extract files.
TipIf you are extracting a file in e-mail, save the file to a folder on the computer first.
In Microsoft Windows, locate the compressed file and right-click it. A menu should open that gives you the options to Extract or Extract all the file. Click one of these options to extract the file. A window should open with additional options, such as the location to where you want to extract the files. If you have installed 7-Zip, click 7-Zip and then Extract to 'xxxx,' where xxxx is the name of the compressed file.
When extracting the files, pay attention to where you are extracting the files. Extracting the files to the incorrect location, such as the desktop, can extract multiple files to the desktop.
If the compressed file is for a program installation, open the folder containing the extracted files and run the setup to start the installation process.
Decompress a file in MS-DOS or the Windows command line
MS-DOS users need to extract the files using the command line. We recommend users use the pkzip and pkunzip utilities to compress and uncompress their files. Additional help and information about how files can be extracted from the command line is available on our PKZIP and PKUNZIP page.
How to decompress a compressed file in Linux and Unix
Unlike other operating systems, almost all variants of Linux and Unix come pre-installed with some form of command capable of compressing and uncompressing files. Linux and Unix users are likely to be dealing with file extensions such as .TAR, TGZ, .Z or .TAR.GZ. See the below Linux and Unix command pages for additional information about the commands used to create compressed files and to uncompress files.
Additional information
- See the compress definition for further information and related links.
In order to compress files/folders into a ZIP file or extract files from a ZIP archive in Windows 10, people tend to use software like WinZip or 7-Zip. Actually, Windows systems come with built-in Compressed Folder Tools so that users can compress and uncompress files/folders even without WinZip or any other outside zip tools installed. Now, this page will show you how to zip and unzip files in Windows 10 without WinZip software.
Part 1: How to ZIP files in Windows 10 without WinZip
When extracting the files, pay attention to where you are extracting the files. Extracting the files to the incorrect location, such as the desktop, can extract multiple files to the desktop.
If the compressed file is for a program installation, open the folder containing the extracted files and run the setup to start the installation process.
Decompress a file in MS-DOS or the Windows command line
MS-DOS users need to extract the files using the command line. We recommend users use the pkzip and pkunzip utilities to compress and uncompress their files. Additional help and information about how files can be extracted from the command line is available on our PKZIP and PKUNZIP page.
How to decompress a compressed file in Linux and Unix
Unlike other operating systems, almost all variants of Linux and Unix come pre-installed with some form of command capable of compressing and uncompressing files. Linux and Unix users are likely to be dealing with file extensions such as .TAR, TGZ, .Z or .TAR.GZ. See the below Linux and Unix command pages for additional information about the commands used to create compressed files and to uncompress files.
Additional information
- See the compress definition for further information and related links.
In order to compress files/folders into a ZIP file or extract files from a ZIP archive in Windows 10, people tend to use software like WinZip or 7-Zip. Actually, Windows systems come with built-in Compressed Folder Tools so that users can compress and uncompress files/folders even without WinZip or any other outside zip tools installed. Now, this page will show you how to zip and unzip files in Windows 10 without WinZip software.
Part 1: How to ZIP files in Windows 10 without WinZip
I will introduce three different ways to create a ZIP file in Windows 10.
Way 1: by sending to the compressed folder
Right-click on the file or folder that you want to compress into a ZIP file, choose Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder from the context menu.
Tips: If you want to ZIP multiple files/folders together, you need to individually click on the files/folders while holding on the Ctrl key on your keyboard to select all the files, right-click on any one selection, and then select Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder from the context menu.
Way 2: from File Explorer
Step 1: Open Windows 10 File Explorer. Locate the file(s) or folder(s) you want to zip and select it/them.
How To Zip Files In Windows 10
Step 2: Select the Share tab and then click on the Zip button. Compressed Folder Tools will compress the selected file(s) and folder(s) into a ZIP file in the same location. You can rename the ZIP file or accept the suggested name.
Way 3: by dragging files into the existing zip file
Step 1: Right-click on the Windows 10 desktop, select New > Compressed (zipped) Folder from the context menu to create a new zipped folder.
Step 2: Rename the new zipped folder or hit Enter to accept the suggested name.
Step 3: Drag the file(s) and folder(s) you want to zip into the new compressed (zipped) folder. Similarly, you can drag files or folders into any one existing zipped folder.
Part 2: How to unzip files in Windows 10 without WinZip
Step 1: Right-click on the .zip file you want to unzip, and then select Extract All from the context menu.
Step 2: In the 'Extract Compressed (Zipped) Folders' dialog, select one destination to save the extracted files, keep Show extracted files when complete checked, and then click Extract. Then it will display an extraction progress dialog box.
Step 3: When the progress is 100%, it will show you the extracted files in the folder you just specified in Step 2.
Above is how compressed folder tools help zip and unzip files in Windows 10 without using WinZip software. The tool is only for compression file of ZIP file form, but can't apply to RAR format. Learn more options to extract RAR file, see How to Unrar RAR Archive File with WinRAR/WinZIP/7-ZIP.
Decompress Zip File Online
Related Articles
- Unzip a Password Protected ZIP Archive File
- How to Password Protect a ZIP File in Windows 10
- How to Unlock ZIP File without Password
- Convert RAR Files to ZIP Files in Windows Using WinRAR
- How to Convert ZIP Archive Files to RAR Format in Windows 10
- How to Compress/Decompress Files and Folders in Windows
