How to use Unzip files
- 1. Pick your ZIP fileClick Choose ZIP files, drop the archive onto the box, or paste it with Ctrl+V. Several ZIPs at once is fine.
- 2. Click Convert to extractExtraction starts only when you click Convert. The archive is opened inside your browser, not on a server.
- 3. Save the extracted filesUse the Download button on the result to save what was inside. Extracting several archives? Download all (.zip) gathers the results.
When an online unzipper helps
Most computers can open a ZIP on their own, so why use a website? Because sometimes you're on a device or account where you can't: a locked-down work laptop, a school Chromebook, a borrowed computer, or a phone where the file landed in the wrong app.
This page needs nothing installed and nothing uploaded. The extraction code loads into your browser and does the work on your device.
ZIP compared with other archive formats
ZIP was created by Phil Katz of PKWARE in 1989 and is the most widely supported archive format. Files inside a ZIP are compressed losslessly, so they come out exactly as they went in.
| Format | Typical extension | Built into Windows and Mac? | On FileToaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP | .zip | Yes, both | Extract here |
| RAR | .rar | Recent Windows 11 only; not Mac | Convert to ZIP |
| 7-Zip | .7z | Recent Windows 11 only; not Mac | Convert to ZIP |
Unzipping on iPhone, Chromebook, Mac and Windows
iPhone and iPad: the Files app can unpack a ZIP when you tap it. If the ZIP arrived in Mail or a chat app and won't open, save it to Files first, or choose it from this page in Safari.
Chromebook: the Files app opens ZIPs, but on managed school or work devices some actions can be restricted. This page runs in Chrome, so it works wherever you can open a website.
Mac: double-click the ZIP and Archive Utility extracts it next to the original.
Windows: you don't need WinZip. Right-click the ZIP in File Explorer and choose Extract All, or use this page if that option is blocked on your PC.
What this tool can't do yet
- Password-protected ZIPs aren't supported yet. The tool tells you when an archive is encrypted.
- Very large archives depend on your device's memory, because everything happens in the browser.
- It extracts ZIP files only. For other archives, turn a RAR into a ZIP or convert a 7z archive first.
Frequently asked questions
Are my files uploaded when I unzip online here?
No. The ZIP is opened on your device, inside your browser, and nothing in it is uploaded. The page loads its own code, ads and cookieless analytics like any website, but your archive's contents never leave your device. Here's how to verify that.
How do I unzip a file on my iPhone?
Tap the ZIP in the Files app and it unpacks into a folder next to it. If that doesn't work, open this page in Safari, choose the ZIP, tap Convert and save the files.
How do I unzip on a Chromebook?
Open the ZIP from the Files app, or open this page in Chrome, choose the ZIP and click Convert. Both work without installing anything.
Can I open a ZIP file without WinZip?
Yes. Windows and macOS both open ZIPs on their own, and this page works in any modern browser. You don't need to buy or install an archiver.
Can I extract a password-protected ZIP?
Not yet. Encrypted ZIP files aren't supported at the moment. Your computer's built-in extractor or an app such as 7-Zip can open them if you know the password.
Does unzipping change the files?
No. ZIP compression is lossless, so every file comes out identical to the one that was put in.
Is there a size limit?
There's no limit we set. Because extraction runs in your browser, the practical limit is your device's memory. A computer handles bigger archives than a phone.
Do the extracted files keep their dates?
In the Download all ZIP, yes by default: each file keeps the date stored in your ZIP. Set Metadata to Remove to give them all a fixed date (1 January 1980) instead. Files you save one by one get today's date from your browser either way.