In order to extract files from a ZIP archive in Windows, you’ll need an unzip utility. Windows XP introduced the built-in capability to unzip ZIP files; however, Windows does not provide this capability in later versions of the operating system. Fortunately, there are many free and paid utilities available to unzip ZIP files.
To start, you’ll need to locate the ZIP file on your Windows computer. If you know exactly where the file is located, you can open it up directly. You can also use the search feature in Windows to find the ZIP file. Once you’ve found the file, right-click on it and select “Open With…”. You’ll then be presented with a list of programs that are able to open the file. Select the unzip utility of your choice.
If you don’t have an unzip utility installed, you can download one for free. Popular unzip programs include WinRAR, 7-Zip, and IZArc. Once you’ve downloaded and installed the program, you can open the ZIP file with it the same way as before.
Once the utility is running, the extracted files will likely be stored in a folder with the same name as the ZIP file. This folder will be located in the same directory as the ZIP file. The process of unzipping may take a few moments depending on the size of the file and the speed of your computer.
Once the extraction process is complete, you’ll be able to make modifications to the files or access them as needed. To view the extracted files, simply navigate to the folder where they were saved. You can then click on the file to view or print its contents. You can also drag and drop the files into another folder or make changes to the file if desired.
In some cases, you might encounter a ZIP file that requires a password to open it. This usually indicates that the ZIP has been encrypted or secured in some way. If you don’t know the password, you won’t be able to open the ZIP file or extract the contents.
Extracting files from a ZIP archive in Windows is a simple process that can be completed quickly and easily. All you need is a compatible unzip utility, and you’ll be ready to go.