On Windows 11, you can quickly extract the contents of a zip file using File Explorer or PowerShell commands without the need to resource to third-party applications, and in this guide, you will learn how.
Zip is a container format to compress information to make files smaller to save space on the hard drive. In addition, the container makes it easier to transfer files over the internet, which is why you typically find a “.zip” file when downloading applications, files, and other contents from the internet.
This guide will teach you the easy steps to unzip files on Windows 11 (or 10).
- Unzip files on Windows 11
- Unzip files on Windows 11 from PowerShell
Unzip files on Windows 11
On Windows 11 and 10, you can extract files from a zip container in two ways. You can extract all or a selection of files, and the instructions below will show you how.
Extract (unzip) all files
To unzip all the files from a zipped file on Windows 11 (or 10), use these steps:
- Open File Explorer on Windows 11.
- Browse to the folder with the .zip file.
- Right-click the file and select the Extract All option.
- (Optional) Click the Browse button and select the folder to extract the zipped files.
- Click the Extract button.
Once you complete the steps, the files will unzip to the selected folder on Windows 11.
Open File Explorer on Windows 11.
Browse to the folder with the .zip file.
Right-click the file and select the Extract All option.
(Optional) Click the Browse button and select the folder to extract the zipped files.
Click the Extract button.
Extract (unzip) a single file
To unzip one or multiple files from a zipped file, use these steps:
- Open File Explorer.
- Browse to the folder with the “.zip” file.
- Double-click the zipped file to open it.
- Select the file(s) (“Ctrl + A” keyboard shortcut).
- Right-click the selection and choose the Copy option.
- Browse to the location to extract the zipped files.
- Right-click inside the folder and choose the Paste option.
After you complete the steps, a copy of the files will be extracted to the specified folder on Windows 11 or 10.
Open File Explorer.
Browse to the folder with the “.zip” file.
Double-click the zipped file to open it.
Select the file(s) (“Ctrl + A” keyboard shortcut).
Right-click the selection and choose the Copy option.
Browse to the location to extract the zipped files.
Right-click inside the folder and choose the Paste option.
Unzip files on Windows 11 from PowerShell
To extract a zip file with commands from PowerShell on Windows 11 (or 10), use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
- Type the following command to unzip files with PowerShell and press Enter:
- Expand-Archive -LiteralPath PATH\TO\ZIP -DestinationPath PATH\TO\DESTINATION
- This example extracts the zipped files to the “Downloads” folder:
- Expand-Archive -LiteralPath C:\Users\m__la\Downloads\wordpress.zip -DestinationPath C:\Users\m__la\Downloads
Once you complete the steps, the files will be extracted from the zip container to the specified folder.
Open Start.
Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following command to unzip files with PowerShell and press Enter:
Expand-Archive -LiteralPath PATH\TO\ZIP -DestinationPath PATH\TO\DESTINATION
This example extracts the zipped files to the “Downloads” folder:
Expand-Archive -LiteralPath C:\Users\m__la\Downloads\wordpress.zip -DestinationPath C:\Users\m__la\Downloads
In addition to “.zip” files, you may find other compression containers like “.tar.gz,” commonly found in Linux and macOS. If this is the case, you can also extract their contents using native commands on Windows 11.
