How to Open a .zip File on Any Device

A simple, beginner-friendly guide for Rhodes Brothers customers. 

What is a .zip file?

A .zip file is like a folder that has been squeezed down into a single, smaller file so it’s easier to email or download. Before you can use what’s inside, you need to “unzip” (or “extract”) it. That’s it.

You’ll know you have one because the file’s name ends in .zip — for example, vacation-photos.zip.

Good news: Almost every modern device can open zip files without installing anything extra. Just find your device below and follow the steps.

A few things to know first

• Don’t worry about breaking anything. Unzipping a file is safe — it doesn’t delete the original zip.
• Unzipping creates a new folder with the same name as the zip file. Your files appear inside that new folder.
• Only open zip files from people and places you trust. A zip can hide viruses the same way an email attachment can.
• If a zip asks for a password, you’ll need to get that password from whoever sent it.

Windows 11 and Windows 10

Windows opens zip files by itself — no extra software needed.

The easy way:

1. Find the zip file (usually in your Downloads folder).
2. Right-click the file.
3. Click Extract All…
4. A window pops up asking where to put the unzipped files. The default location is fine — just click Extract.
5. A new folder opens with your files inside. You’re done.

Just want to peek inside without unzipping? Double-click the zip file. Windows will show you what’s inside, but for most things (especially programs) you should still extract first.

Mac (macOS)

Macs handle zip files even more simply than Windows.

1. Find the zip file (usually in your Downloads folder, accessible from the Dock or Finder).
2. Double-click the zip file.
3. That’s it. A new folder appears right next to the zip with all the contents inside.

If double-clicking doesn’t work, right-click (or hold Control and click) the file, then choose Open With → Archive Utility.

Tip: If you often deal with other archive types like .rar or .7z, install the free app The Unarchiver from the Mac App Store. It handles everything Archive Utility doesn’t.

iPhone and iPad (iOS / iPadOS)

The built-in Files app opens zip files with a single tap. No app downloads needed.

1. Open the Files app (the blue folder icon — if you can’t find it, swipe down on your home screen and search “Files”).
2. Find your zip file. If you downloaded it from Safari or got it via email, look in Downloads or On My iPhone / On My iPad.
3. Tap the zip file once.
4. A new folder appears next to the zip, with the same name. Tap it to see your files.

If tapping doesn’t unzip it (sometimes happens with files stored in iCloud): press and hold the file, then choose Uncompress from the menu.

If the file came through Mail or Messages: tap the zip attachment, tap the Share icon, then Save to Files. Then open the Files app and follow the steps above.

Android Phones and Tablets

Most modern Android phones can open zip files using their built-in file manager.

Samsung Galaxy phones

1. Open the My Files app (it usually comes pre-installed).
2. Find your zip file (try the Downloads or Internal Storage folder).
3. Tap the zip file.
4. Tap Extract in the bottom-right corner.
5. Confirm the folder name and tap Extract again.

Google Pixel and most other Android phones

1. Open the Files by Google app (if you don’t have it, install it free from the Play Store — it’s made by Google).
2. Tap Browse at the bottom, then go to Downloads (or wherever your zip is).
3. Tap the zip file. A pop-up shows what’s inside.
4. Tap Extract.
5. When it finishes, tap Done.

Xiaomi, OnePlus, and others

Open your phone’s built-in file manager (often called File Manager or Files), find the zip, tap it, and look for an Extract option. The wording varies slightly between brands, but the steps are the same.

If your phone’s file manager won’t open zips, install the free ZArchiver app from the Play Store. It’s reliable and supports almost every archive format, including password-protected zips.

Chromebook (ChromeOS)

ChromeOS has had built-in zip support for years.

The fast way (recommended):

1. Open the Files app (the blue folder icon in your app launcher).
2. Find your zip file.
3. Right-click it (or tap with two fingers on the trackpad).
4. Click Extract all.
5. A new folder appears in the same location with everything inside.

The browse-it-first way:

1. Double-click the zip in the Files app.
2. ChromeOS “mounts” it like a temporary drive in the left sidebar.
3. You can drag files out of it to copy them anywhere you want.
4. When done, click the small eject arrow next to it in the sidebar.

Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint, and similar)

Most Linux desktops handle zips out of the box.

Using the file manager (easiest):

1. Open your Files app (sometimes called Nautilus, Files, or Dolphin depending on your distribution).
2. Find your zip file.
3. Right-click it and choose Extract Here or Extract To…

Using the Terminal (if you’re comfortable with it):

unzip filename.zip

If unzip isn’t installed, install it with:

• Ubuntu/Debian/Mint: sudo apt install unzip
• Fedora: sudo dnf install unzip

The Universal Method: Open a Zip in Your Web Browser

If you’re on a device that can’t seem to open zip files — like a smart TV browser, a borrowed computer, or a really old phone — you can use a free online unzipper. This works on literally any device with a web browser.

1. Go to a trusted site like archiveextractor.com or ezyzip.com.
2. Click the upload button and choose your zip file.
3. The site shows you the contents, and you can download individual files or all of them.

Important: Only do this with files that don’t contain anything private or sensitive. Your file is uploaded to someone else’s server. For personal documents, banking info, or work files, use one of the device methods above instead.

Common Problems and Fixes

“The file is asking for a password.” Zip files can be encrypted. You’ll need to get the password from whoever made or sent the file. There’s no way to recover a forgotten zip password through normal means.

“The zip says it’s corrupted or won’t open.” The download may have been interrupted. Try downloading the file again from the original source. If it still fails, ask the sender to re-create and resend it.

“I extracted it but I don’t know what to do with the files inside.” Zip files are just containers. What’s inside could be photos, documents, programs, or anything else. Once extracted, those files behave normally — open them by double-tapping or double-clicking like any other file.

“It’s a .rar or .7z file, not a .zip.” These are similar but different formats. On Windows 11, right-click and Extract All still works. On Mac, install The Unarchiver (free). On Android, use ZArchiver (free). On iPhone/iPad, the Files app handles most common types, but for trickier formats try iZip from the App Store.

“I unzipped it and now there are TWO copies — the zip and the folder.” That’s normal. Once you’ve extracted what you need, you can safely delete the original .zip file to save space. Your unzipped folder stays put.

Quick Reference Card

That’s everything you need. Once you’ve done it once, you’ll do it without thinking about it.