Unzip Files — Free Browser ZIP Extractor
Drop a .zip and browse its contents as a folder tree — file sizes included. Preview text files and images without extracting, download a single file, or extract everything to a folder you choose. The archive never leaves your device.
Private by design. Your archive is read and decompressed entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded to a server.
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ZIP vs RAR vs 7z: what a browser can and cannot extract
Not all archives are equal in a browser. ZIP’s DEFLATE compression is light enough to run instantly in JavaScript, which is why this tool is ZIP-only. Here is how the common formats compare and what to reach for when.
| Format | Compression | Browser-extractable | Best desktop tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP | DEFLATE — fast, universal | Yes — this tool | Built into every OS |
| ZIP (encrypted) | DEFLATE + AES/ZipCrypto | No — password handling needs native code | 7-Zip / The Unarchiver |
| RAR | Proprietary RAR algorithm | No — format is closed-spec | WinRAR / The Unarchiver |
| 7z | LZMA/LZMA2 — highest ratios | No — decompressor too heavy for a page | 7-Zip |
| tar.gz | gzip over a tar bundle | Not here — different container | Built into macOS/Linux; 7-Zip on Windows |
- ZIP stores each file compressed independently, which is what makes single-file download possible without decompressing the whole archive.
- If you need to create an archive instead, the ZIP Creator tool at /tools/zip-creator does the reverse — also fully in-browser.
How to unzip a file in your browser
- Drop your ZIP. Drag a .zip file into the drop zone or click to browse. The archive is read locally — nothing uploads.
- Browse the tree. Folders expand and collapse; every file shows its uncompressed size. Click the eye icon to preview text files and images inline.
- Grab single files. Click the download icon next to any file to save just that one — no need to extract the whole archive.
- Or extract everything. Click Extract all. On Chrome and Edge you pick a destination folder and the full structure is written into it; other browsers download the files one by one.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is my ZIP uploaded to a server?
- No. The archive is read and decompressed entirely in your browser with JavaScript — your files never leave your device.
- Can it open password-protected ZIPs?
- No. Encrypted archives need a desktop tool — 7-Zip (Windows), The Unarchiver (Mac), or the built-in unzip with a password prompt. You get a clear message instead of a crash.
- Why not RAR or 7z files?
- RAR is a proprietary format and 7z uses LZMA compression — both need much heavier decompression code than browsers can load reasonably. For those, use 7-Zip or The Unarchiver on desktop. This tool focuses on ZIP, which covers the vast majority of downloaded archives.
- Is there a size limit?
- No hard limit — the archive is held in browser memory, so a few GB works on modern machines. Very large archives are slower to open.
- Does Extract all keep the folder structure?
- On Chromium browsers (Chrome, Edge, Opera), yes — you pick a destination folder and subfolders are recreated inside it. Browsers without the File System Access API fall back to downloading files individually.
- What can be previewed inline?
- Text formats (txt, md, json, code files, csv, logs and more, first 100 KB) and images (png, jpg, gif, webp, svg, bmp, ico). Other types can still be downloaded.
Use Cases
- Peek inside a downloaded ZIP before trusting or extracting it
- Pull one document out of a large archive without unpacking everything
- Open a ZIP on a locked-down work machine where you can’t install software
- Preview the images inside a photo archive before saving them
- Extract a source-code ZIP into a project folder, structure intact