Learn how to zip and unzip files and folders with Windows Vistas built in compression function.
Compressing and uncompressing (zip and unzip) a folder or files can be done “out of the box” with Windows Vista. You don’t need to purchase software to zip or unzip files anymore.
This is not an obvious feature in Windows Vista. I’ve split this guide into two sections that explain how to zip and unzip files and folders using Windows Vistas compression feature.
Learn how to zip or unzip a file or folder in Windows 7.
Zip (Compress) Files and Folders
Right-click a file or folder with multiple files in it, point at Send To, then select Compressed (zipped) Folder.
Windows Vista will compress (zip) the file or folder and save the new zipped file in the same place as the original file.
Unzip (Uncompress) Files and Folders
You can unzip a file a few different ways.
Double-click the Zipped File
The easiest way to unzip a file is to double-click it. A window with the zipped files contents will open. You can click Extract all files or drag the files out of the window to the desired location (example: the desktop).
If you choose to click extract all files, the files will be extracted (unzipped) in the same location as the original file unless you specify a location in the Select a Destination and Extract Files box that appears when you choose to extract them.
Right-click the Zipped File
Right-click the zipped file and select Extract all. The Select a Destination and Extract Files window will open and let you choose if you want to save the files in the same location as the original zipped file or you can choose where you want to save the unzipped files by clicking browse and choosing a new location.
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Please clarify the default Vista compression and whether it can be configured.
No idea how to have the inbuilt zip folder in Windows vista or how to retrieve it
All the above process works in XPs and others, but hardly at Vista
Wow, thank you for this advice as I can’t afford to buy WinZip and this helped me learn how to use Vista to unzip my files for the new website I’m working on.
Dear Sir:
I have had Vista almost from the start. I am really thinking about going back to XP because of the very slow starts and all the other problems like this one…
I need to down-load electronic file codes about once/twice a month to opperate equiptment. I should seperate the code and remove the text from the number portion. Unzip the number portion with the new code and install it to bring up the electronic device. Before trying to do this (with my Dell & Vista) I had never tried to zip/unzip a file. Because I had problems try (and not knowing what I was doing) I did try to down-load one of those free zip/unzip programs. It was a mess! It was loaded with all kinds of Pop-ups and unusable, so I dumped it!
Now that I kind-of understand what I should be doing. It looks like part of my file or shell extension is gone (or it has always been missing?). Either way, I cannot follow your directions. Please help!
Might I be better of re-installing my Windows Vista over my existing Vista?
When I rigt click I don’t see any Extract all Files and that menu is not there. If I go into Properties or Edit I go into a Microsoft word file ‘lingo? All I can do there is exit.
I am my computers Administrator but I could not follow your explanation of how to try and fix the shell extension. I clicked on start and could not find where to type in the command line! I tried Search but nada! So,where do I type in a command line? And then where do I see the entry for CompressFolder? And then???
Please respond and help!
Thank you,
Neal
Thanks for the info. I never would have found it without your help. I need to zip some video files to send them to the person on them. I, unfortunatly, have Vista but I don’t think my friend does. Before I zip them and send them to her, will she be able to unzip them if she has XP?
Yes.
I have tried to unzip a compressed file and still am having no luck please help
I have windows vista and do not have the option to “extract all” when right-clicking on the file….any other solutions?
mee toooo! I have an assignment thats due Sunday.. cant unzip. when i double click on it, it doesn’t show the files.. it opens up in some wingding language in notepad.
No extract option.
hm.. guess you didn’t know what you were talkin about.. unless this isn’t really for vista.
Thanks,
Kimberly
I unzip files using this feature on a daily basis. Maybe there’s someting wrong with your computer.
When I wanted to unzip a file, I select to unzip the file using another program. Now be defualt the unzip file always selects that particluar program unzip the file. This program loads images. How can I navigate to the windows zip file to reselect this built in compression program?
Uninstall the program that’s trying to unzip the files.
I’m using Vista. I’ve been sent a bunch of compressed folders as *.zip files. When I try to ‘extract all’ or double-click, I get this message “Windows cannot open the folder. The compressed (zipped) folder is invalid.”
This is happening with all the zipped files I’ve received from different sources. Other people who have received the same file are able to open it, though most of them are on WinXP.
I have been playing with Winzip 12 and encryption. On uninstalling Winzip the zip files are no longer linked to a program so I am looking for the name of the Vista program so I can restore the default.
The problem described by Vinay occurs when you try to open an encrypted archive with Vista that was zipped and encrypted by Winzip. That’s what I have been testing- the two methods don’t seem to be compatable.
I have not had any problems unzipping any other type of file using Vista. I have all the patches and service packs set up for Vista.
IS there a keyboard shortcut for ‘Send to Compressed Folder’??
hello body look wanna ask u plz
i used to extract the same file many times cause this file needs extraction every time i need to use it after several times its stoped wroking and the windows tell me that it (could not extract this file cause the file destination could not be ceated) so plz can u help me fix this problem
Hi Brent, Thanks for the useful tips.
I wish to know if compressing a file can reduce the size of
the file. I need to reduce the file size.
Thanks
This advice is more or less exact instuctions found in Microsoft ‘help’…..It doesn’t work!
There is no option for ‘Extract Files’ if there was people wouldn’t be trolling round the net trying to fix their problem would they?
If I double click on my Zip files it opens Windows Gallery with a message saying the file format is not supported.
Please come up with an answer not just quote what we can already find quite easily on our PC’s or laptops!
Nicola
when i click the zip file , it open in notepad..
i already knew how to unzip file in windows vista
… just RIGHT CLICK to the zip files then ENCRYPT the files..
after that, u can open the files, just enter the password that you’ve set in the ENCRYPTION then the file will open automatically..
i discovered it by my self….
I found that when I uninstalled Winzip, I could then right click on my zipped file in Vista and the Extract option came up. Interestingly, when Winzip is installed, this Extract option is not available!
-John
am getting problem to unzip my folder. there are multiple folder on the hard drive. about 1.33gbyte and am stuck. I’ve try defferent software but none work. am stuck
Hi i am wanting to make a video on windows movie maker but yet i do not know how to take the movies off of the CD and put into my videos
PLEASE help me
This should help those people who can’t find the “Extract All” option. It is most likely a problem with the file type association. To fix this, click Start -> Computer -> Organize -> Folder and Search Options -> View -> Hidden Files and Folders -> Show Hidden Files and Folders -> OK. Then right click on the .zip file (and make sure it is .zip and not .7z or some other filetype that may not be compatible with the built in compression) and click Open With… -> Browse…. In the Folders pane (on the left side below the Favorite Links) navigate to Desktop -> Computer -> Local Disk (C:) and search (in the top right) for explorer.exe and select the application explorer. Then make sure you select to Always use this program to open this kind of file. Click OK and a new window should open with the files contained in the .zip file. This is not a perfect fix, it is barely a workaround. Once you do this, the icon should now look like a desktop computer. If the icon looked like a folder with a zipper, then there is most likely a problem with the file. Make try to right click and extract all with a file you are sure is a functional .zip. After following my steps you will have to double click on the zip and then click extract all in the toolbar below the address bar or just drag and drop files.