A ZIP file is one file that holds other files and folders inside it, usually squeezed to take less space. People use it to send many files as a single attachment. Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone can all open a ZIP without installing anything: you extract it, and the files inside come out as normal files you can use.
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- Full name
- ZIP archive (compressed folder)
- Extension
- .zip
- Type
- Archive: a container for other files, usually compressed
- Opens with
- Built in on Windows, Mac, Android (file manager) and iPhone (Files app)
- Can it run code
- Not by itself, but it can carry files that do, so check what is inside
- Starts with
- The letters PK, like DOCX, XLSX and APK files, which are ZIP containers too
- Common source
- Email attachments, college notes, photo sets from a studio, software and form downloads
What is a ZIP file? It is a parcel for data: one file with a .zip ending that carries a folder of documents, photos or forms inside it, packed tighter so it uploads and downloads faster. You meet ZIPs when a college shares a semester's notes, when a photo studio sends wedding pictures, or when an office portal gives you a set of forms in one download.
This page shows how to open a ZIP on your phone and computer, how to make one yourself, and what to do when it refuses to open. If your file ends in .rar or .7z instead, those are cousins of ZIP with their own pages: RAR files and 7Z files.
What is a ZIP file made of?
Inside a ZIP there is a list of every file it holds, with each file's name, size and date, and the files themselves, usually shrunk by compression. Text, spreadsheets and documents shrink a lot. Photos and videos hardly shrink at all, because JPG and MP4 are already compressed, so a ZIP of phone photos is about the same size as the photos.
The format is so useful that many other formats are secretly ZIPs. A .docx document, an .xlsx spreadsheet, an Android .apk and an .epub book all begin with the same two letters, PK, which is the ZIP signature. That is why renaming a .docx to .zip lets you see the pictures stored inside a document.
How to open a ZIP file on your mobile (Android)
- Open your phone's file manager app. On many phones it is called Files or My Files; on others it is Files by Google.
- Go to Downloads, or to the WhatsApp documents folder if the ZIP came in a chat.
- Tap the ZIP file. You will see what is inside and a button such as Extract.
- Tap Extract. A new folder with the same name appears next to the ZIP, holding the real files.
If tapping the ZIP only offers to share it, your file manager cannot unpack archives, so you need a ZIP file opener app. Install a file manager with archive support from the Play Store, choosing one with many reviews and no request for strange permissions.
Opening a ZIP on iPhone
- Save the ZIP to the Files app (from Mail or a chat, tap the file, then the share icon, then Save to Files).
- Open the Files app and find the ZIP.
- Tap it once. The iPhone unpacks it straight away into a folder with the same name.
That folder sits in the same place as the ZIP. Photos inside do not appear in your gallery on their own; open each one and choose Save Image if you want it there.
Opening a ZIP on a Windows laptop or Mac
On Windows, double clicking a ZIP shows its contents like a folder, but the files are still packed. Opening a document from there often makes it read only or makes your changes vanish. Always extract first:
- Right click the ZIP in File Explorer.
- Choose Extract All.
- Keep the suggested folder or pick another, then click Extract.
On a Mac, double click the ZIP in Finder. The Mac unpacks it at once into a folder beside it, with nothing else to click.
Open a ZIP file online, and when not to
Websites that open ZIP files online work by uploading your file to their server and unpacking it there. That is fine for a set of public wallpapers. It is a bad idea for anything personal: salary slips, Aadhaar or PAN copies, exam documents, client designs. Your phone and computer already open ZIPs for free, so an online opener is rarely needed. Use one only on a borrowed computer where you cannot extract files, and only for files you would be happy to make public.
How to make a ZIP from a folder
To send twenty files as one attachment, pack them first. On Windows, select the files or the folder, right click and choose Compress to ZIP file (on older Windows: Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder). On a Mac, right click and choose Compress. On Android, select the files in your file manager and look for Compress or Zip in the menu. The convert to ZIP guide covers every device in detail, including how to stay under email size limits.
ZIP file problems and fixes
| What you see | Why it happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The archive is damaged or unexpected end of archive | The download stopped early | Download it again on a steady connection and compare the size with the sender's |
| It asks for a password | The sender locked it | Ask the sender; there is no safe way around it |
| Names turn into strange symbols | File names in another script or an old encoding | Extract on a computer, or ask the sender to rename the files in English before zipping |
| Extract is greyed out | The ZIP is still downloading or sits in a read only location | Wait for the download to finish, or move it to Downloads first |
If the file is not really a ZIP at all, the file not supported guide explains how to find out what it is.
Is it safe to open a ZIP file?
Opening and extracting a ZIP does not run anything. The risk is what is inside. Look at the extracted files before you open them: a file called invoice.pdf.exe is a program pretending to be a document. Delete ZIPs from unknown senders, especially ones that promise refunds, jobs or delivery updates.
A shop owner received a ZIP named courier_details.zip by email. Inside was courier_details.pdf.js, a script, not a PDF. Opening it would have run code. When the extracted file ends in .exe, .js, .vbs, .bat or .apk and you were expecting a document, stop.
For more archive and app formats, see the archives and app files hub.
Questions people ask
Why do people send ZIP files instead of normal files?
A ZIP turns many files into one attachment and keeps folders in order, so nothing goes missing. It also makes documents smaller, which helps with email and upload limits.
How do I convert a ZIP file to a normal file?
You do not convert it; you extract it. Tap or right click the ZIP and choose Extract, and the normal files come out into a folder. The ZIP itself can be deleted afterwards.
Can I open a ZIP file on my phone without an app?
Yes. iPhones unpack ZIPs in the Files app, and most Android phones can extract them in the built in file manager. You only need another app if your phone's file manager has no Extract option.
What is the difference between ZIP and RAR?
Both pack files into one archive. ZIP opens everywhere without extra software, while RAR often needs an archive tool on older computers and phones. See the RAR file guide for the details.
Why is my ZIP file not smaller than the original files?
Photos, videos and music are already compressed, so zipping them saves almost no space. Documents and text files shrink much more.