A ZIP file is an archive of multiple files that have been put together into a single, compressed file. The compressed file can be extracted to reveal the contents inside, and these contents are usually in the same relative size as they were in the original, uncompressed form. The ZIP format was created for Windows systems by Phil Katz in 1989, as part of his freeware PKZIP program.
Opening a zip file on modern versions of Windows is incredibly simple and sometimes unnecessary. All you need to do is double-click the .zip file in File Explorer and it will open just like any other folder. You can then view the contents, drag and drop the files out, or even edit them directly within the .zip file.
If you’re using Windows 7 or earlier, you’ll need to install a program to extract the contents of the .zip file. On Windows 7 and Vista, you can use the built-in program called “Compressed (zipped) Folders” which can be found in the Accessories folder. For Windows XP, you can either install 7-Zip (open source and free) or WinZip (commercial but has a free trial).
To open a .zip file in these programs, simply right-click the file and choose “Extract All…”. This will bring up a dialogue box where you can select the folder where you want to extract the files. Click “Extract”and the files will be saved to the folder you chose.
Once you’ve opened the .zip file, you can use the program to look at the contents in more detail. Most programs will display a list of all the files within the archive alongside their file size, modification date, and other information. If you’re just looking for a particular file, you can quickly search for it within the program and access it right away.
When opening large archives, the program may take a little while to scan the entire archive. Once it’s done, you’ll be able to access all the files inside the archive. Depending on the size of the archive and your system’s specifications, it may take a few seconds to a few minutes.
Once you have all the files you need from the zip file, you can delete it from your system to free up space. Just remember, deleting a .zip doesn’t delete the files inside, only the container. To permanently remove the files, you must delete them individually or delete the new folder once the files are extracted.
In conclusion, most modern versions of Windows can open a .zip file with a single click, making it easy to view the files inside the archive without needing a third-party program. If you’re using an older version of Windows, you’ll need to install a program such as WinZip or 7-Zip before you can access the contents inside a .zip file. Once you have the files you need, you can then delete the .zip file.