Unzip Online — Extract ZIP Files in Your Browser
Updated June 2026 · Covers unzip files, extract zip files, open zip file, unzip without software
Someone sent you a .zip. You don't want to install WinRAR. You don't want to upload sensitive files to a random site. This page extracts the archive in your browser, lists every file inside, and lets you save them one at a time or all at once. The bytes never leave your device.
How to unzip a file in your browser
- Open the tool. Visit essexsoftware.com/unzip-online. Loads in any modern browser; no extension or signup.
- Drop the .zip. Drag your archive onto the dropzone. The contents are parsed locally — nothing uploads.
- Pick what to save. Click "Save" next to any single file, or "Save all files" to get every file at once.
- Done. Files land in your Downloads folder. The original .zip is untouched.
Open the full tool
Need to create a ZIP, set a password, or work with whole folders? Bulk Archiver has the lot.
Extract a single file from a big ZIP
This is one of the genuinely-better experiences with an in-browser extractor: you don't have to extract the whole archive. Once the file list loads, click "Save" only on the entries you want. The other files are never written to disk and don't take up your Downloads folder.
This matters when:
- A vendor ships a 600 MB ZIP of installer assets and you only need
licence.txt. - Someone shares a "wedding photos" archive and you just want the one photo you're in.
- A dataset ZIP has thousands of CSVs and you only need a couple by name.
When it doesn't work
Password-protected ZIP
If you drop a ZIP that's encrypted with a password (the file list shows but contents fail to decrypt), this version of the tool can't help yet — AES-encrypted and ZipCrypto support is on the roadmap. Workaround: install 7-Zip (free, Windows/Linux) or use macOS Terminal's unzip.
Broken / corrupted ZIP
If your download was interrupted, the .zip is often truncated and the central directory at the end is missing. The extractor will report an error rather than producing partial data. Re-downloading the file usually solves it. For truly damaged archives, specialised tools like ZIP Repair or DiskInternals ZIP Repair can sometimes salvage data.
It's actually a RAR or 7z, not a ZIP
RAR and 7z look similar but are completely different formats with proprietary compression codecs. They don't open in a ZIP extractor. RAR specifically is proprietary — every browser-based RAR extractor uses the same WebAssembly port of unrar, and creating RARs in a browser isn't possible at all. We're adding RAR and 7z extraction as separate tools; for now use 7-Zip on desktop.
How this compares to other online unzip tools
| Feature | Us (in-browser) | Typical online unzip tools |
|---|---|---|
| Files leave your device? | No — local only | Yes — uploaded to server |
| Extract a single file without unpacking everything | Yes — per-file save buttons | Usually no — all-or-nothing |
| Free tier size cap | None (browser RAM is the limit) | Usually 500 MB – 2 GB |
| Signup required | No | Often, after first use |
| Works offline after page load | Yes — disconnect Wi-Fi to verify | No |
| Password-protected ZIP | Not yet (roadmap) | Usually supported |
| RAR / 7z | Roadmap | Often supported |
FAQ
How do I unzip a file online without uploading it?
Use a browser-based extractor that parses the .zip in JavaScript or WebAssembly. The bytes never leave your tab — the browser reads the central directory and decompresses the entries locally. You can verify by disconnecting from Wi-Fi after the page loads; the extractor keeps working. Most popular online unzip tools, by contrast, upload your archive to a server.
Can I extract just one file from a big ZIP?
Yes. After dropping the .zip, every file is listed in a table. Click "Save" next to the one you want. You don't have to extract everything — useful when the archive has hundreds of files and you only need a couple.
Can I open password-protected ZIP files?
Not in the current version. Standard PKZIP encryption (ZipCrypto) and AES-encrypted ZIPs are on the roadmap. For now you'd need a desktop tool (7-Zip, WinRAR) if the archive is encrypted.
Can I extract RAR or 7z files?
This page extracts ZIP only. RAR and 7z extraction is on the roadmap and will be separate pages. Note that RAR's compression codec is proprietary — every online RAR extractor uses the same WebAssembly port of unrar, and creating RARs in a browser isn't possible.
What if my .zip is broken or corrupted?
If the central directory at the end of the archive is intact, this tool can usually still list the entries. If the directory itself is corrupt — common when a download was interrupted — you'd need a repair tool like ZIP Repair or DiskInternals. Re-downloading the .zip is usually the simplest fix.
Is there a file size limit?
Your browser's memory is the only practical limit. Modern desktops handle multi-gigabyte archives. Phones cap out earlier (a few hundred MB before the tab gets killed). Server-based unzip tools usually cap the free tier at 500 MB – 2 GB.