How to Unzip (extract) Files from a Zipped Folder in Windows 10


You can zip (compress) a file so that it takes up less space. This makes it easier to email or move the file. You can also zip multiple files into a single compressed folder. This makes it easier to share a group of files. To open a file that has been zipped, you need to unzip (extract) it first.

This tutorial will show you different ways on how to unzip (extract) files from a zipped folder in Windows 10.

If you zip or add EFS encrypted files to a zipped compressed folder, the encrypted files will no longer be encrypted in the ZIP folder or after they’re extracted from the ZIP folder.

For a Windows 11 version of this tutorial, see:

Unzip (extract) Files from ZIP Folder in Windows 11

Contents

• Option One: To Extract All Files from Zipped Folder using Context Menu
• Option Two: To Extract All Files from Zipped Folder using File Explorer Ribbon
• Option Three: To Extract a Specific File or Files from Zipped Folder
• Option Four: To Extract All Files from Zipped Folder in PowerShell
• Option Five: To Extract All Files from Zipped Folder in Command Prompt

OPTION ONE

To Extract All Files from Zipped Folder using Context Menu

1 Right click or press and hold on the zipped folder, and click/tap on Extract All. (see screenshot below)

2 Browse to the folder location where you want to extract all contents in the zipped folder to, check or uncheck the Show extracted files when complete for what you want, and click/tap on Extract. (see screenshot below)

The default location will be the same location as the zipped folder.

3 The files will now be extracted. (see screenshot below)

OPTION TWO

To Extract All Files from Zipped Folder using File Explorer Ribbon

1 Open the zipped folder, click/tap on the "Compressed Folder Tools" Manage tab, and click/tap on the Extract all icon. (see screenshot below)

2 Browse to the folder location where you want to extract all contents in the zipped folder to, check or uncheck the Show extracted files when complete for what you want, and click/tap on Extract. (see screenshot below)

The default location will be the same location as the zipped folder.

3 The files will now be extracted. (see screenshot below)

OPTION THREE

To Extract a Specific File or Files from Zipped Folder

1 Open the zipped folder.

2 Drag or copy the item(s) from the zipped folder to a new location.

OPTION FOUR

To Extract All Files from Zipped Folder in PowerShell

1 Open PowerShell.

2 Type the command below into PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

Expand-Archive -Path "Full path of ZIP" -DestinationPath "Full path of folder to extract all"

Substitute Full path of ZIP in the command above with the actual full path of the .zip file.

Substitute Full path of folder to extract all in the command above with the actual full path of the folder you want to extract all contents of the .zip file to.

For example: Expand-Archive -Path "C:\Users\Tuffy\Desktop\test.zip" -DestinationPath "C:\Users\Tuffy\Desktop"

OPTION FIVE

To Extract All Files from Zipped Folder in Command Prompt

This option will not work if the ZIP file name has a space in it.

1 Open a command prompt.

2 Type the command below into the command prompt, and press Enter.

PowerShell -Command "Expand-Archive -LiteralPath 'Full path of ZIP' -DestinationPath 'Full path of folder to extract all'"

Substitute Full path of ZIP in the command above with the actual full path of the .zip file.

Substitute Full path of folder to extract all in the command above with the actual full path of the folder you want to extract all contents of the .zip file to.

For example: PowerShell -Command "Expand-Archive -LiteralPath 'C:\Users\Tuffy\Desktop\test.zip' -DestinationPath 'C:\Users\Tuffy\Desktop'"

That's it,
Shawn Brink

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Zip (compress) a File or Folder in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove 'Extract All' Context Menu for ZIP Files in Windows
• How to Change Send to Compressed (zipped) Folder Icon in Windows

Windows 11 Tutorials