How To Unzip / Extract .zip Files (Windows and Mac)

Note: This specifically is referring to websites that have been downloaded into .zip files, but applies to all .zip files regardless.

If you download your website a certain way, or if we send you your website, it may be in a .zip file format. This compresses the multiple files into a single file. You will need to “unzip” (or “extract”) the file to obtain the individual files. Once unzipped or extracted, most of the website files are usually found in the “httpdocs” folder. 

Below are the steps to unzip a file on Windows and MacOS

Info from: https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/how-to-zip-and-unzip-files/

Microsoft Windows - Unzip file (extract)

Opening ZIP files on Windows is simple with the Extract All feature. Just follow the steps below. If you don’t see Extract All, instead open the folder and drag the contents to another location.

1. Right click the ZIP folder and choose Extract All.

2. Select the location where you want your extracted files to appear and click Extract. Extracting to the desktop make files easier to find but don’t store them here permanently.

3. Your extracted files will now appear on your desktop or in whatever location you chose in step 2.

Apple MacOS - Unzip file

Opening ZIP files on a Mac couldn’t be easier: Simply double click the ZIP file and the uncompressed contents in it will appear next to the ZIP file. If you do this in a Finder window and don’t immediately see the contents, try organizing by Name or Date Modified.

1. Double click the ZIP folder.

2. Locate the new contents in the same location as the ZIP folder.