Now you can open zip files on Android devices like never before.
Due to differences in operating systems and their features, downloading, opening and managing ZIP and other file types are often associated with PC realms. However, these features can be implemented using phones (Android and iOS) and tablets.
Even if one is not a professional, opening these compressed files on a mobile device and extracting their contents is quite easy.
Read on as we introduce the standard way to open zip files on Android devices and some cool, easy-to-use third-party apps. So, let’s start without further ado.
What are the different compressed file formats?
Before learning how to extract and open these compressed files on Android, it is important to know about the different compressed file formats.
Some of the notables are –
- .zip
- .7Z
- .GZ
- .RAR
- .XZ
- .zipx
- .BZ2
.zip
A ZIP file is a type of archive that consists of several “compressed”files. The ZIP folder allows you to store files separately. This format allows separate compression and opening of these files.
.7Z
This file format uses several compression utilities. It is noteworthy that Igor Pavlov’s 7-ZIP file. 7Z compressed using open source LZMA compression. This compression boasts a high compression ratio. 7Z files usually consist of file directories or files stored for transport.
.GZ
Primarily used on Unix systems, this format is compressed using the GNU zip compression algorithm.
.RAR
These file archives compress files using RAR compression. Their compression efficiency is greater than that of ZIP files, and they are used when transferring or storing files.
.XZ
Based on the LZMA algorithm, this file format uses XZ compression.
.zipx
A ZIPX file archive is something like a variant of a ZIP archive. It uses an advanced and sophisticated compression technique created by CorelWinZip. It compresses files in the ZIPX format, which compresses files to a smaller size than ZIP files.
.BZ2
This archive created by bzip2 is commonly used on Unix based systems. This file archive uses Burroughs-Wheeler compression along with run-length encoding to compress to a large extent.
Let’s now follow the standard procedure for opening zip files on Android.
How to open Zip files on Android?
Now that we have covered the famous file archives, we can go deeper and learn how to open zip files on Android.
- Open the Google Play Store on your Android device.
- Use the search bar to find “Google Files”.
- Install the application published by Google LLC.
- Open the app after installing it on your Android smartphone.
- For Google Files to work, you must grant the app permission to access your files. To do this, click the blue “Allow”button on the screen.
- The app will now direct you to the Android settings page. Toggle Allow access to manage all files.
- Now you can return to the application. To unzip the desired file, you will need to find the zipped file.
- Browse through the various folders on your phone, much like you would navigate between files on a PC.
- Once you have found the ZIP file, all you have to do is click on it.
- The application will provide a summary of the ZIP file. If this is satisfactory, click on the eject button.
- After extracting the files, the application will prompt you to delete the ZIP file to save disk space.
- Voila! Your files are now extracted to the same location as your ZIP files.
Note. You can use any of the available file managers. For example, ES File Explorer opens zip files.
If you prefer to use a third party application to open zip files on Android, the following tools will suit you. Let’s discuss them.
7 Best Third Party Tools to Open Zip Files on Android
Here are the top 7 highly rated file extractors to open any compressed file on your device. And guess what? All of these tools are free to use and provide more built-in features. Let’s see what it is.
- ZArchiver
- WinZip – a tool for extracting archives
- RAR
- Solid Explorer File Manager
- ALZip
- 7Z – Zip file manager and 7Zip
- 7Lightning
1. Archiver
With an interface full of various features, ZArchiver is an application suitable for those who are not well versed in file compression and extraction technology. With a built-in file manager, you can even change and customize the interface to your liking.
pros
- This tool can both compress and extract ZIP files.
- It is also supported by rooted devices.
Minuses
- There are a lot of ads that you can’t get rid of.
- It is not supported for all compressed file formats.
2. WinZip – a tool for extracting archives
This great WinZip tool is more than adequate for your basic file compression and extraction needs. The tool also has a cloud feature that can transfer zipped files via Google Drive or Dropbox. The tool also has a somewhat complex level of encryption.
pros
- The paid version of this tool offers a significant level of encryption.
- You can also clean up photos with the photo cleanup tool.
- The tool is compatible with Chromebook.
- The premium version offers zip code and email features.
Minuses
- Ads interfere with the free version to the point where the ads become extremely annoying if you want to use advanced features.
- Also, surprisingly, there is no search option in this tool.
2. RAR
While RAR was originally created for Linux systems, it has also found its way into Android. RAR is incredibly versatile for extracting many zipped files. These include ZIP, RAR, B72, GZ, XZ, 7Z, ISO, and ARK files. RAR also measures the extraction and compression speed of these files.
pros
- Ability to extract files from various formats.
- Choose between light and dark themes.
- Password protection for ZIP files.
Minuses
- Extremely short trial period. Intrusive adware.
4. Solid Explorer File Manager
The Solid Explorer file manager is a jack-of-all-trades. The capabilities of the tool are not limited to extracting files, but also managing files.
pros
- A user manual is provided.
- The tool has another level of customizability by offering multiple icon packs and color schemes.
- The subscription to the application is distributed to an unlimited number of devices under the name of the account holder.
- It has many features such as file management.
Minuses
- The only real downside is that you may run into issues when extracting some RAR files.
5.ALZip
ALZip is a full-featured free file manager for Android that helps you manage your files and archives. Even though it is free software for Android, ALZip has all the features of the paid MiXplorer Silver.
In terms of functionality, ALZip can compress data to ZIP, egg, and other formats, as well as extract zip, RAR, 7Z, tar, and other formats.
pros
- Suitable for all compressed file formats.
- Easy to use
- Free use
Against
- User interface could be better and more intriguing
6. 7Z – Zip File Manager and 7Zip
7Z – Files Manager is a free Android software that can help you manage your files and archives.
With 7Z – Files Manager, you can easily open or compress ZIP, RAR, JAR or APK files on your Android smartphone. This application can also unpack password-encrypted files. But, of course, you need to know the password for this.
pros
- Easily open or compress ZIP, RAR, JAR or APK files.
- Easy to use
- This application can also unpack password-encrypted files.
Minuses
- Not recommended for beginners
7. 7 Lightning
Finally, 7Zipper is another great app for opening zip files on Android. It will help you efficiently compress and extract zipped files on the fly. The tool works with almost all compressed files such as ZIP, ALZ, EGG, TAR, GZ, RAR, JAR, etc. Moreover, the tool also comes with an image and text viewer.
pros
- Built-in image and text viewer
- Efficiently compress and extract archived files
- Suitable for beginners
Minuses
- Some compressed file formats are not supported
What are 3 benefits of compressed files?
Now that we know how to extract files from ZIP folders in Android, what exactly do we get from using compressed files instead of their normal version?
- Storage space
All files take up memory. These ZIP files, by compressing them, reduce the file size by almost 50%. This allows you to increase the efficiency of your device and make the most of its ROM.
- Increased bandwidth and transfer speed
Bandwidth refers to the speed at which your network sends data from the Internet. Bandwidth is measured in units of data called bits. Because compressed files take up fewer bits, your network will take less time to transfer these files.
- Cost reduction
Because you can use more space as compressed files take up less storage space, you can be more economical in your purchasing decisions. For example, if you compress a 500 MB file, its size will become 250 MB.
This allows you to purchase more cost-effective storage items such as hard drives and cloud storage.
Conclusion
So here you go. Now that you’ve learned the different types of compressed file formats, the tools to compress and open zip files on Android, and their benefits, you should be ready to compress and extract files.
If you have any doubts about the above information, feel free to contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
.GZ option no.
An archive file that uses the basic GNU zip (gzip) compression method is known as a GZ file. It usually contains one compressed file, but may contain several. Like other file archives, this allows you to concatenate files and shrink them to make them smaller.
Can I open a zip file on my android phone?
Yes, you can use an app with this feature to open zip files on Android. All android file managers cannot do this. Before extracting the file, you must have enough space to perform this operation. You will get a “memory full”error message if there is not enough space.
Why can’t I download a ZIP file to my phone?
Answer: According to the Files by Google agreement, it cannot attach zip files to it. So even though you have the Files by Google app pre-installed on your smartphone, trying to open ZIP files will still be a violation. If you download the ZIP file incorrectly, it may not run. Incomplete downloads can also happen when files freeze due to problems with your data connection or internet access. All of these can lead to transfer failures that prevent your Zip files from opening.