Compressing files into zip format is a convenient way to reduce file sizes and bundle multiple files together. However, when you receive a zip file, you'll need to extract its contents to access them. Windows 11 offers built-in tools for unzipping files, and there are also third-party applications like 7-Zip that provide additional features. This guide will show you how to unzip files in Windows 11 using both methods.
Unzip files using the built-in utility in Windows 11
To extract a zip file using Windows 11's built-in utility, follow these steps:
- Locate the zip file you want to extract.
- Right-click the zip file and select 'Extract All' from the context menu.
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- Alternatively, select the zip file, and click 'Extract All' in the 'Command Bar' at the top of the File Explorer window. This option appears only when a compressed file is selected.
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- In the 'Extract Compressed (Zipped) Folders' window, choose the destination folder by clicking 'Browse...', or paste the path directly if you have it copied.
- If you want the extracted folder to open automatically after extraction, check the box next to 'Show extracted files when complete'.
- Click 'Extract' to begin the extraction process.
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Windows will extract the files to your chosen location, and you can access them there.
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Extract selected files from a zipped folder
If you need to extract specific files without decompressing the entire archive, follow these steps:
- Double-click the zip file to open it and view its contents.
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- Select the file(s) you want to extract.
- Right-click the selected file(s) and choose 'Copy' from the context menu.
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- Navigate to the destination folder where you want to paste the files.
- Paste the files by pressing
CTRL
+V
or by right-clicking and selecting 'Paste'. The files will be extracted to this location.
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You can extract multiple files by selecting them all before copying and pasting them to your desired location.
Unzip files with the 7-Zip app
7-Zip is a powerful third-party application that can extract files and offers additional features beyond the built-in Windows utility. To use 7-Zip for unzipping files, follow these steps:
- Download 7-Zip from 7-zip.org/download by selecting the version compatible with your system.
- Open the installer and follow the on-screen prompts to install 7-Zip. Once installed, you're ready to extract files using 7-Zip.
- Right-click the zip file you want to extract and select 'Show more options' from the context menu.
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- Hover over '7-Zip' to view additional options.
- Select 'Extract files...' to choose a destination folder, or select 'Extract Here' to extract files to the current folder.
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- If you chose 'Extract files...', click the ellipsis (...) button in the extraction dialog to browse and select the destination folder.
- Click 'OK' to start the extraction process.
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7-Zip will extract all files to the designated folder you chose.
Extract selected files from a zip file using 7-Zip
To extract specific files using 7-Zip, follow these steps:
- Right-click the zip file and select 'Show more options' to access the extended context menu.
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- Hover over '7-Zip' and select 'Open archive' from the submenu.
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- In the 7-Zip window, select the file(s) you want to extract.
- Click the 'Extract' button at the top.
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- In the extraction dialog, click the ellipsis (...) to change the extraction path if necessary.
- Click 'OK' to extract the selected files.
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The selected files will be extracted and available in the folder you specified.
Whether you use Windows 11's built-in utility or a third-party app like 7-Zip, extracting files from a zip archive is straightforward. Choose the method that best fits your needs and preferences.
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