ZIP files are the internet’s standard way of compressing multiple large files into a single, easy-to-download folder. If you are migrating from a Windows PC or a Mac to a Chromebook, you might find ChromeOS’s method of handling ZIP files highly confusing. Unlike Windows, which extracts ZIP files into a new folder on your desktop, ChromeOS treats a ZIP file as if it were a physical USB drive plugged into your computer.
While this “mounting” approach is very efficient for system resources, it requires a slightly different workflow to successfully extract or compress your files. Fortunately, the entire process is handled natively by the built-in ChromeOS Files app; you do not need to download any third-party unzipping software from the Google Play Store.
How to Unzip (Extract) Files on a Chromebook
When you download a ZIP file (for example, a batch of photos from an email), you must “mount” it, copy the files out of it, and then “unmount” it.
- Open the Files app on your Chromebook. (You can find this in the app launcher, or by pressing the Search key and typing “Files”).
- Navigate to your Downloads folder (or wherever you saved the ZIP file).
- Double-click the ZIP file.
- Look at the left-hand sidebar of the Files app. You will notice the ZIP file has appeared there, looking like an external hard drive with an eject icon next to it.
- Click on the ZIP file in the sidebar to view its contents.
- Select all the files inside (you can press Ctrl + A to select everything).
- Right-click the selected files and choose Copy (or press Ctrl + C).
- In the left-hand sidebar, navigate back to your Downloads folder (or create a new folder).
- Right-click in the empty space and select Paste (or press Ctrl + V).
Crucial Final Step: Once your files are safely copied, you must eject the ZIP file. Look at the left sidebar again, find the mounted ZIP file, and click the small Eject icon (the upward-pointing triangle) next to it. You can now safely delete the original ZIP file to save space.
How to Zip (Compress) Files on a Chromebook
If you need to email several large documents to a colleague, compressing them into a single ZIP file is much faster and cleaner than attaching them individually.
- Open the Files app.
- Navigate to the location of the files you want to compress.
- Select all the files you want to include. To select multiple specific files, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking on each one. To select a continuous list, click the first file, hold the Shift key, and click the last file.
- Once your files are highlighted in blue, Right-click (or two-finger tap on your touchpad) on any of the selected files.
- Select Zip selection from the context menu.
ChromeOS will immediately create a new file in the same folder named Archive.zip.
Before you send the file, it is highly recommended to rename it so the recipient knows what it contains. Simply right-click the Archive.zip file, select Rename (or press Ctrl + Enter), type a descriptive name like Project_Photos.zip, and press Enter.
