How to extract an archive online
- Drop the archive onto the drop zone above, or click Choose a file. ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, TAR.XZ, ISO, CAB, CPIO, XAR, LHA/LZH, AR/DEB and plain GZ files are accepted.
- If the archive is an encrypted ZIP, type its password into Password (only if the archive is encrypted). Leave the box empty for everything else.
- Click Extract files and wait while the archive is read. Large archives take longer because every entry is unpacked.
- Every file found inside appears in the results with its own Download button. When there are two or more, Download all (ZIP) bundles them into one ZIP.
The archive is read in your browser by zip.js and libarchive.js (the libarchive C library compiled to WebAssembly). Nothing is uploaded, which matters when the archive holds contracts, backups or other private files.
One extractor, many formats
Archive formats fall into two families. Some, such as ZIP, 7Z and RAR, bundle files and compress them in a single step. Others split the job: TAR only bundles, and a separate compressor such as gzip, bzip2 or xz squeezes the result, which is why you see double extensions like .tar.gz. Disk images like ISO are a third case, storing a complete file system rather than a list of compressed files.
Because every format needs different code, desktop users often end up installing several programs. This page covers the common ones in one place:
| Format | Typical source | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ZIP | Email attachments, downloads from Windows and macOS | Encrypted ZIPs open with the password |
| RAR (RAR 4 and RAR 5) | WinRAR users, file-sharing sites | Encrypted RAR is not supported |
| 7Z | 7-Zip users, large software bundles | Encrypted 7Z is not supported |
| TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, TAR.XZ | Linux, macOS, source code releases | Folder structure inside is listed in full |
| ISO | CD/DVD images, software installers | Files are read without mounting |
| CAB, CPIO, XAR, LHA/LZH, AR/DEB | Installers, packages, older archives | Read through libarchive |
Limits to be aware of
Everything is held in browser memory while it is being unpacked. Archives up to a few hundred megabytes extract comfortably; inputs over about 700 MB become slow, and files larger than 2 GB are refused. If your device has little free memory, close other tabs first.
Original modification dates are only available for ZIP archives. Files extracted from RAR, 7Z, TAR, ISO and the other formats are saved by your browser with the current date. macOS clutter such as __MACOSX/ folders and ._ files is skipped automatically.
Password-protected RAR and 7Z archives cannot be opened here, even with the correct password. Use 7-Zip or WinRAR on the desktop for those. Nothing on this site can recover or guess a forgotten password.
Tips
- Only need one or two files from a big archive? ZIP Viewer lists the contents with their sizes and lets you download single entries without extracting the rest.
- If someone sent you a RAR or 7Z and the recipient after you only has built-in tools, Archive Converter repacks it as ZIP.
- For ZIP-only work with a dedicated interface, use Unzip Files.
- Browse every other packing, converting and password tool on the archive tools page.
Frequently asked questions
Which archive formats can I extract?
ZIP, RAR 4 and RAR 5, 7Z, TAR with or without gzip, bzip2 or xz compression, ISO 9660 images, CAB, CPIO, XAR, LHA/LZH, AR/DEB and single-file GZ. Single-file .bz2 and .xz files are not supported; only TAR archives compressed with them are.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The archive is opened by WebAssembly code running in your browser tab, and the extracted files are created on your device.
Why does my encrypted archive fail to open?
Encrypted ZIPs work once you enter the password, but encrypted RAR and 7Z archives are not supported in the browser. Open those with 7-Zip or WinRAR instead.
Can I extract several archives at once?
The extractor handles one archive at a time. Extract each one in turn and download its contents before moving to the next.