To extract a ZIP file, use the 'Extract All' option on Windows or simply tap the archive in the iOS Files app. If extraction fails, check if the file is encrypted or in an unsupported format (like RAR or 7z on older Windows versions), as these may require third-party software.
01Extracting Files on Windows
Windows provides built-in tools to handle compressed folders. To unzip files: 1. Locate the zipped folder in File Explorer. 2. To extract everything: Right-click the folder and select 'Extract All...', then follow the on-screen prompts. 3. To extract a single file: Open the zipped folder and drag the specific file or folder to a new location on your computer.
02Extracting Files on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro
Apple devices use the Files app to manage archives: 1. Open the Files app and navigate to the location of the ZIP file (e.g., On My iPhone or iCloud Drive). 2. Tap the ZIP file or archive. 3. The system will automatically create a folder containing the extracted contents. 4. Tap the newly created folder to access your files.
03Troubleshooting Common Extraction Issues
If you cannot open a compressed file, consider these factors: - Unsupported Formats: While Windows 11 (version 24H2) supports ZIP, RAR, 7z, and TAR, older versions may not. If the file extension is not supported, use a third-party app like 7-Zip or WinRAR. - Encrypted Files: Windows built-in tools do not support operations on encrypted archive files. You will need a non-Microsoft application to decrypt and extract these files. - File Corruption: If the extraction fails unexpectedly, the file may have been corrupted during download. Try downloading the file again.
Sources & further reading
Put it into practice
Before you convert
A short checklist for choosing an image format and checking the result.
Download checklist (.txt)