Compressed zip files are archives that contain multiple files with several types of data. They are commonly used to send large amounts of data over the internet. Windows users can open a compressed zip file using Windows Explorer, WinZip, 7Zip or other file archiving programs.
To open a compressed zip file with Windows Explorer:
1. Locate the zip file by searching from the Start menu or by navigating to its folder location.
2. Right-click the zip file and select “Extract All…” from the context menu.
3. In the Extract Compressed (Zipped) Folders window, select a destination for the extracted files. This could be a new or existing folder. The default location is the same as the zip file you are extracting
4. Click “Extract” to unzip the file.
Windows Explorer will then create a new folder that is named exactly the same as the zip file. Inside this folder will be all of the files and folders that were compressed into zip.
WinZip is another popular tool used to open compressed zip files on Windows. It provides advanced features compared to Windows Explorer, such as password protection and the ability to compress files even further. The steps for opening a zip file with WinZip are similar to the above steps.
1. Locate the zip file
2. Double-click the zip file to launch WinZip
3. Select a destination for the extracted files in the WinZip window.
4. Click “Unzip” to extract the contents of the file.
7Zip is another popular program for Windows users. It also provides advanced features, such as the ability to open various types of archives, including 7z, RAR, ISO, BZIP2, and TAR. Opening a zip file with 7Zip follows similar steps as above.
1. Locate the zip file
2. Right-click the zip file and select “7-Zip” > “Extract Here”.
3. The files will be extracted to the same directory as the zip file.
It is also possible to open a compressed zip file with other file archiving programs such as WinRAR, ALZip, PeaZip, and IZArc. The steps for opening a zip file will vary depending on the program being used.
In summary, a compressed zip file can be opened on Windows with Windows Explorer, WinZip, 7Zip, or any other file archiving program. To open a zip file, locate the desired zip, right-click and select “Extract All…” (or the equivalent option for the file archiving program). Then choose a destination folder and click “Extract” to unzip the file.