Not sure how to unzip a file on Android? In this guide, we’ll tell you how to unzip or extract a file using a file manager or an archiver.
Archive files are used to compress files and folders. These are very useful when you’re transferring files between devices and want to do it quickly, as compressed files take up less storage space than uncompressed files and can be transferred quicker. While some of you may only be familiar with ZIP files, archive files have several different formats, including RAR, TAR, and 7Z. To decompress or unzip these files on an Android device, you’ll need an archive manager or a third-party file manager. You can download one of the options recommended below and follow the step-by-step instructions to unzip or extract files on your Android phone or tablet.
How to unzip or extract files on Android
Although most Android smartphones and tablets have a native file manager, it rarely supports all compressed file formats. If you’re facing issues decompressing an archive file with the built-in file manager on your device, you can try one of the following apps.
ZArchiver
ZArchiver is an archive management app that supports several file formats. You can create 7ZIP, ZIP, BZIP2, GZIP, XZ, LZ4, TAR, and ZST files with the app. In addition, you can extract and view over 20 more formats. It also supports password-protected and split archives. Overall, ZArchiver is a powerful archive management app that should meet pretty much all your requirements. Follow these steps to unzip a file with ZArchiver:
- Open ZArchiver and navigate to the archived file in your device storage using the drop-down menu at the top.
- Select the archived file and tap the View option on the following pop-up to easily view its contents.
- Tap one of the three extraction options to extract the contents of the zipped file. Select Extract here to extract the contents in the current folder, Extract to .// to extract the contents in a different location, or Extract… to extract files in a different location by simply navigating to the target folder instead of typing its file path.
Depending on the option you select, ZArchiver will decompress the selected file and extract its contents in the target location. As mentioned earlier, you can also use the app to compress files before sharing. Follow these steps to compress files using the app:
- Open ZArchiver and navigate to the file or folder you wish to compress using the drop-down menu at the top.
- Tap and hold the file or folder to open the context menu.
- Select Compress to *.zip or Compress to *.7z options to quickly create a .zip or .7z archive file of the selected file or folder. If you want to rename the archive file or select a different format, select the Compress… option.
- If you select either of the first two options, ZArchiver will compress the file/folder and save it in the same directory. If you select Compress…, you’ll see a pop-up with options to change the file name, archive format, and compression level. You can encrypt the file in the same menu or split it into multiple volumes.
- Tap on OK after dialing in the details to compress the selected file.
Solid Explorer
A third-party file manager like Solid Explorer is a great option for those who don’t want to download a separate archive manager. It offers basic tools for your archive management needs and supports ZIP, 7ZIP, RAR, and TAR files. In addition, it has all the features you expect from a dedicated file manager app.
- Open Solid Explorer and navigate to the archived file.
- Tap on the file to view its contents, or tap and hold the file to extract its contents.
- If you tap and hold the compressed file, a new bottom bar with several tools should pop up at the bottom of the app’s interface. Tap on the three-dot menu button in the bar to open the context menu.
- Select the Extract option in the context menu to extract the contents of the archived file in the same folder.
Solid Explorer also includes an option to help you easily create archived files on your phone. Follow these steps to archive a file using Solid Explorer:
- Open Solid Explorer and navigate to the file or folder you want to compress.
- Tap and hold the file or folder to open the bottom bar, and then select the three-dot menu button to open the context menu.
- Select the Archive option to create a compressed version of the selected file or folder.
- Enter the desired file name on the following pop-up, and select the archive file format and compression level. You can also check the Protect with password option to encrypt the compressed file.
- Hit Create to compress the selected file. Solid Explorer will save the compressed file in the current directory.
Easily unzip and compress files on your Android device
By following the instructions mentioned above, you can easily unzip or compress files on any Android device. If you don’t usually deal with multiple archive file formats and need to get into a ZIP file quickly that your friend shared, you only need a third-party file manager like Solid Explorer. If you don’t like the app, you can check out our selection of the best file manager apps on Android for a couple of alternatives. However, if you want something more powerful that supports a wider range of formats, you can’t go wrong with ZArchiver.