1. Unzipping (extracting) a file or folder can be done in several ways. The most common way is to use file-archiving software such as WinZip, WinRAR, or 7-Zip. All of these programs are available for free download on their respective websites.
2. Before unzipping a file, it is important to locate the destination folder where you want to extract the files. If the destination folder has not yet been created, you can do so by right-clicking the mouse over the Desktop, selecting New, then selecting Folder. Once the folder is created, you will need to rename it to something relevant to the files or folder you are about to unzip.
3. Once the folder has been created and named, you can open the file archive software of your choice. Most programs such as WinZip, WinRAR, or 7-Zip will have an Extract button to click. Once the Extract button is clicked, a dialog box will appear asking you to input the exact path to the destination folder. It is important to note that the extracted files will be placed within the folder you selected.
4. After selecting the destination folder of your choice, you will need to select the file or files that you wish to extract. You can either select all of the files in the archive or choose individual files. Once the desired files have been selected, clicking the Extract button again will begin the file extraction process. Depending on the size of the file and the speed of your computer, this process may take a few minutes or longer.
5. Once the extraction process has completed, you will be able to find the extracted files in the destination folder that you specified earlier. You can now open and view these files as needed. In some cases, you may need to install additional software in order to view certain types of files. For example, if the archive contained image files, you may need to install an image viewer application such as IrfanView or Adobe Photoshop in order to view them.
6. If you need to unzip a file that is password protected, you will need to input the password before the extract process will start. If you do not know the password for the file, you will need to contact the person who sent you the file in order to obtain the password.
7. Lastly, if you need to compress (zip) a file or folder, this can also be done using most file archiving programs. The procedure is usually very similar to unzipping a file except a dialog box will appear asking you to specify the folder where the compressed file should be stored.