Extracting ZIP Files on Windows: A Comprehensive Guide

Microsoft
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Updated for 2025, this guide demonstrates how to extract files from a zipped folder on Windows 11 and Windows 10 without needing any external software. We’ll explore several methods, including using File Explorer, PowerShell, and Command Prompt.

A ZIP file is a compressed archive, designed to reduce the size of files for efficient storage and transfer. This is why software downloads, documents, and various other types of content are often packaged in the “.zip” format.

Unzip files on Windows 11 from File Explorer

Windows 11 offers two primary ways to extract files from a ZIP archive using File Explorer: extracting all files or selecting specific files. Here’s how to do both:

Extract all files from File Explorer

Step 1: Open File Explorer on Windows 11.

Step 2: Navigate to the folder containing the zipped file.

Step 3: Right-click the ZIP file and select the Extract All option.

Step 4: (Optional) Click the Browse button to choose a specific destination folder for the extracted files. If you skip this step, files will be extracted to a folder with the same name as the .zip archive, in the same directory.

Step 5: Click the Extract button.

After completing these steps, the files will be extracted to the selected folder.

Extract a single file from File Explorer

Step 1: Open File Explorer.

Step 2: Navigate to the folder containing the ZIP file.

Step 3: Double-click the ZIP file to open it, displaying its contents within File Explorer.

Step 4: Select the file(s) you want to extract. Use Ctrl + A to select all files within the archive.

Step 5: Right-click the selected file(s) and choose the Copy option.

Step 6: Browse to the destination folder where you want to extract the file(s).

Step 7: Right-click inside the destination folder and choose the Paste option.

Following these steps will copy the selected files to the destination folder, effectively extracting them from the ZIP archive.

Unzip files on Windows 11 from PowerShell

PowerShell provides a command-line method for extracting ZIP archives. Here’s how to use it:

Step 1: Open Start.

Step 2: Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

Step 3: Type the following command to extract files using PowerShell, then press Enter:

Expand-Archive -LiteralPath PATH\TO\ZIP -DestinationPath PATH\TO\DESTINATION

This example extracts the zipped files to the “Downloads” folder:

Expand-Archive -LiteralPath C:\Users\m__la\Downloads\example.zip -DestinationPath C:\Users\m__la\Downloads\Extracted

Replace PATH\TO\ZIP with the actual path to your ZIP file and PATH\TO\DESTINATION with the path to the folder where you want to extract the contents.

Once you complete the steps, the files will be extracted from the zip container and sent to the specified folder.

Unzip files on Windows 11 from Command Prompt

You can also use the Command Prompt to extract ZIP files using the tar command.

Step 1: Open Start.

Step 2: Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

Step 3: Type the following command to navigate to the directory containing the ZIP file, then press Enter:

cd PATH\TO\ZIP

Replace PATH\TO\ZIP with the actual path to the folder containing your ZIP file. For example: cd C:\Users\m__la\Downloads.

Step 4: Type the following command to extract the files using the tar command, then press Enter:

tar -xf container.zip -C PATH\TO\EXTRACT\ZIP

This example extracts the zipped files to the “Extracted” folder:

tar -xf example.zip -C C:\Users\m__la\Downloads\Extracted

Replace container.zip with the name of your ZIP file and PATH\TO\EXTRACT\ZIP with the path to the destination folder.

After completing these steps, the files will be extracted to the specified folder.

FAQ

Does Windows 11 have a zip program?

Windows 11 integrates ZIP file handling directly into File Explorer, eliminating the need for a separate zip program.

Why is there no Extract option on Windows 11?

The Extract option appears in File Explorer when you right-click a ZIP file or when you are viewing the contents of a ZIP file.

Why can’t I extract a zip file?

If you encounter issues extracting a ZIP file, it may be corrupted or incomplete. Try re-downloading the file. If it was sent to you, request that the sender recreate and resend it.

These methods provide flexible options for extracting ZIP files in Windows 11, allowing you to choose the approach that best fits your needs.