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How to Open a ZIP File with Windows Explorer?

Published in Windows File Management 3 mins read

To open a ZIP file using Windows Explorer, right-click on the file and select the "Open with..." option, then choose "Windows Explorer."

Here's a more detailed explanation:

  1. Locate the ZIP file: First, navigate to the folder on your computer where the ZIP file is saved.

  2. Right-click on the ZIP file: Right-clicking will bring up a context menu.

  3. Select "Open with...": From the context menu, find and click on the "Open with..." option. This will display a list of programs you can use to open the ZIP file.

  4. Choose "Windows Explorer": In the "Open with" window, look for "Windows Explorer" (or sometimes just "Explorer") in the list of programs.

    • If you see "Windows Explorer": Select it, and then click "OK." This will open the ZIP file in Windows Explorer, allowing you to view its contents as if it were a regular folder.
    • If you don't see "Windows Explorer": If "Windows Explorer" isn't listed, click on "Choose another app" or "Choose default program..." (the wording may vary slightly depending on your version of Windows). In the subsequent window, scroll through the list. If you still don't see it, look for a check box labeled "Always use this app to open .zip files" and uncheck it temporarily. This allows you to choose Explorer without making it the default. Select "Windows Explorer" and click "OK".

  5. Accessing the Contents: Once opened with Windows Explorer, you can view the files and folders inside the ZIP archive. You can then copy, move, or extract these files and folders to a location of your choice.

Alternative Method (Double-Click):

In many cases, simply double-clicking on a ZIP file will automatically open it with Windows Explorer. If this doesn't work, follow the steps outlined above.

Troubleshooting:

  • If the "Open with..." option is missing: This is highly unlikely as it's a core Windows function. However, ensure your Windows installation is intact. You may need to run a system file check.
  • If you can't see the contents: Ensure the ZIP file isn't corrupted. Try downloading the ZIP file again if you obtained it online.
  • If Windows Explorer doesn't extract: Windows Explorer only lets you view the contents of the ZIP file as if it were a folder. To fully extract the files, you can drag and drop them to another folder or right-click within the Explorer window showing the ZIP contents and choose "Extract All".

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