7-Zip works in Windows 10 / 8 / 7 / Vista / XP / 2019 / 2016 / 2012 / 2008 / 2003 / 2000. P7zip - the port of the command line version of 7-Zip to Linux/Posix. On 7-Zip's SourceForge Page you can find a forum, bug reports, and feature request systems. Open Files by Google and locate the ZIP file you want to unzip. If you downloaded the ZIP file from a website, it may be in the Downloads folder. ZIP files always have the.zip extension.
Windows zip file associations are used to determine how Windows handles the opening of zip files. By default Windows can natively open zip files using Windows explorer. However, there are many software apps available that can also open zip files such as Bitser, 7-zip, WinRAR, Zipware and they may take over as the default program associated with opening zip files. If these applications are then later uninstalled the .zip file extension may be associated to a program that doesn't exist and hence fail to open correctly on your computer.
To fix this problem and restore Windows Explorer as the default program associated with zip files you can try any of the solutions listed below. Please note that while some solutions may work for one computer they may not work for another but hopefully you will find one that works for you :)
1) Change 'Open with' properties of a zip file
The easiest way to reset zip associations in windows is to:
1. Right click any zip file and select properties.
2. Click the Change button next to where it says Open with in the screenshot below.
2. Click the Change button next to where it says Open with in the screenshot below.
3. In the Open with window select Windows Explorer from the list of programs
4. Tick Always use the selected program.. and click OK.
4. Tick Always use the selected program.. and click OK.
If you do not see Windows Explorer in the list above then click Browse and manually select Explorer.exe located at C:Windowsexplorer.exe as shown below. Finally click Open then OK.
All .zip files should now be associated with the original built-in windows default.
All .zip files should now be associated with the original built-in windows default.
2) 'Open with' context menu
Similar to solution 1 above you can also right click the zip file in explorer, select Open with from the context menu and then select Choose default program as shown below.
Again the Open with window will be shown and you can select Windows Explorer from the list of programs, tick Always use the selected program.. and click OK.
3) Default Programs & Folder Options
To fix this problem in Windows 7 and 8 you can change file type associations for zip files by navigating to:
1. Control panel > Programs > Default Programs
2. Click Associate a file type or protocol with a program
1. Control panel > Programs > Default Programs
2. Click Associate a file type or protocol with a program
Select the .zip extension, click the Change programs button and select Windows Explorer as the default.
In Windows XP the above options are not available but you can change .zip file extension associations by navigating to:
1. Control Panel > Folder Options
2. Click the File Types tab, select zip extension, click Change button and select Compressed Folders. Video won t export from imovie. Activision call of duty support number.
2. Click the File Types tab, select zip extension, click Change button and select Compressed Folders. Video won t export from imovie. Activision call of duty support number.
4) Use command prompt as administrator
You can also fix zip file assoiciations using the command line. Start the windows command prompt found in the start menu under Accessories. You will need to be administrator of the PC for this command to work. In windows 7 you will need to:
1. Right click the command prompt in the start menu and select Run as Administrator (not required in XP).
2. Type the following command: assoc .zip=CompressedFolder
2. Type the following command: assoc .zip=CompressedFolder
5) Editing registry keys
In Windows 7 and 8 you can also try to repair zip file associations by deleting a specific user key in the registry:
How To Unzip A File
1. In the Windows Start menu search box type Regedit
2. Run Regedit.exe and navigate to HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerFileExts.zip
3. Right click the UserChoice folder and select Delete. Answer Yes to permanently delete the subkeys.
2. Run Regedit.exe and navigate to HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerFileExts.zip
3. Right click the UserChoice folder and select Delete. Answer Yes to permanently delete the subkeys.
6) Install Bitser (freeware)
If all else fails you can try and install Bitser (freeware) which can set file extension associations programatically. Under the options tab in Bitser you can associate or unassociate the .zip extension to Bitser. When you unassociate it, Bitser will automatically reset .zip extensions so that they are opened by Windows Explorer. Bitser will also do this when it is uninstalled. The default/native windows association is called 'CompressedFolder' which will appear after you un-check the box next to .zip and click apply as shown in the screenshot below. Bitser can be downloaded for free here
Have you received an email with a ZIP file attachment, and you didn’t know what to do with it? Just like regular digital folders, you can easily open a ZIP file on almost any computer or operating system. But, unlike regular folders, you need more than just a simple double-click to use the files inside it. Here’s how to open a ZIP file on a Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, and Android devices.
What is a ZIP File?
![Opener Opener](https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/extract_all.png)
A ZIP file is a type of file format that contains compressed filesand folders for the purpose of archiving, storage, and/or transmission. It istreated as one file when being transferred or transmitted from one digitalstorage space to another. These files have the file extension “.zip” atthe end of their name.
Most operating systems have built-in software that can create and open ZIP files. But there is also third-party software you can use, such as WinZip, 7zip, and WinRAR, that can also do the same.
How to Open a ZIP File on Windows 10
If you’re using a PC at home, you can easily open a ZIP file with thebuilt-in Windows Compressed Folder.To open a ZIP file using this Windows 10 feature, simply follow the stepsbelow:
- Locate the ZIP file you want to open. If you downloaded the ZIP file from the internet or as an email attachment, you might find it in the Downloads folder in your System Drive.
- Right-click on the ZIP file and select “Extract All…” Once you select “Extract All,” you will get a new pop-up menu.
- In the pop-up menu, select a location to extract the files. If you want your files to be extracted in another location, click “Browse” and select your destination in the pop-up window.
- Once you’ve selected a destination folder, click “OK.”Note: Make sure to check “Show extracted files when complete” so you can immediately find the unzipped files after it is opened and extracted.
- Finally, click “Extract” in the pop-up menu. The built-in software will start extracting the files from inside the ZIP folder.
Unzip Files Zip File Opener Online
Once the extraction is complete, a window will pop-up, displayingall the extracted files from the ZIP file.
How to Open ZIP Files on Mac?
If you have a Mac, you can still easily unzip orextract files from a ZIP file using Mac’s Archive Utility tool. Here’s how toopen a ZIP file using the Archive Utility tool in Mac:
- Locate the ZIP file you want to open. If you’re not sure where you stored the ZIP file after downloading it, check the Downloads folder.
- Double-click the ZIP file. This will automatically begin the file extraction, which may take a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the number and size of the files being extracted.
Unzip Files In Windows
When the extraction is complete, a window will pop up to displaythe extracted files or folders. If no window opens up after the extraction iscomplete, simply locate the extracted folder to display the extractedfiles.
How to Open a ZIP File on Android Devices
For Android phones, you will needto download and install a zip file opener, such as the Files app from Google Play Store, to extract files from a ZIP file. The application comespre-installed on many Android phones. To check if you already have the app, tapthe Apps button, which looks like a square of four or nine dots on your homescreen.
- Open the Files app. If you’re going through the initial setup, you may have to give the app access to photos, media, and files in your device. Click Allow to do this.
- Then click Browse at the bottom of your screen.
- Locate the ZIP file you want to extract. If you’ve downloaded it as an attachment from an email, you may find it in the “Download” folder.
- Tap the file you want to open and then tap Extract. This will open a list of the files in the ZIP folder.
- Finally, tap Done. You can access any of the files by tapping “All” at the top of your screen and then clicking the downward arrow next to the right of a file. Then tap “Open with” and choose an application.
How to Open Zip Files on an iPhone
Much like with Mac computers, iPhones and other Apple devices havea default feature that allows you to see your ZIP files. However, to actuallyextract workable files from a ZIP file on your mobile device, you need toinstall an archiving application such as iZip from the App Store. Much like the Files app for Android, iZip isa free application so no need to worry about fees or subscription costs.
- Download, install, and open the iZip app.
- Then tap Files at the top of your screen. This will only work after you have downloaded the ZIP file to your iPhone.
- Locate the ZIP file you want to extract files from. If you’ve downloaded the file from a website or an email, check for the ZIP file inside your Files app. Note: If you do not see your ZIP file in Files, go back to the ZIP file and select the “send to” button. Then tap “More” and select “Copy to iZip.”
- Tap the ZIP file you want to extract. Then, tap and hold for a second or two to open a pop-up menu.
- Finally, tap OK in the pop-up. This will automatically unzip (or extract) all the files in the ZIP folder. Depending on the size, this may take a few seconds to a few minutes.
Once you have extracted all the filesand folders, you can view them through the iZip app. If you want to open a filewith a certain app, tap the “Open In” button at the bottom of your screen.
Now that you know how to open a ZIP file on Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android, check out our article on how to zip a file or create zip files.
![Unzip Files Zip File Opener Unzip Files Zip File Opener](https://is2-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple113/v4/1e/80/f2/1e80f2c2-cfc8-4ec2-8a86-210d6f18dad2/pr_source.png/392x696bb.png)
Updated on December 6, 2019