How to open ZIP, RAR and 7z files on Android
Extract ZIP, RAR, 7z and TAR files on Android, open password-protected ZIPs, create ZIP files and fix common errors. Step by step, with a free extractor.
By Syed Zaman · Updated · 3 min read
Quick answer
Most Android file apps can extract a ZIP file: open it in the file app and choose Extract. RAR and 7z files often need a file manager with a full archive extractor, such as Fylo, which extracts ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR and GZ files and lets you preview the contents first.
ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR and GZ: what is the difference?
- ZIP is the most common archive format. Windows, macOS and most Android file apps open it without extra software.
- RAR is the format created for WinRAR. It is common for large downloads and multi-part files, and many phones cannot open it out of the box.
- 7z is the open format from 7-Zip. It often compresses better than ZIP.
- TAR bundles files together without compressing them. It is often combined with gzip, giving names like .tar.gz or .tgz.
- GZ (gzip) compresses a single file and is common for downloads from Linux and developer tools.
Option 1: extract a ZIP file with your phone's file app
- Open your phone's file app, such as Files by Google or Samsung My Files.
- Go to the folder that holds the archive. Downloads is the usual place for files from a browser or email.
- Tap the ZIP file and choose Extract.
- Open the new folder that appears next to the archive to see the files.
Note: Steps differ between phone makers. If your file app has no Extract option, or cannot open RAR or 7z files, use a file manager with a full archive extractor.
Option 2: open ZIP, RAR and 7z files with Fylo
Fylo is a free, ad-free file manager with a built-in archive extractor. It extracts ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR and GZ archives, opens password-protected ZIP files and creates ZIP files.
- Install Fylo from Google Play and allow file access when Android asks.
- Find the archive in Downloads, in the Archives category or in the folder you saved it to.
- Open the archive to preview what is inside before extracting anything.
- Extract it, and choose where the files should go if you are asked.
- For a password-protected ZIP, enter the password when Fylo asks for it.
How to make a ZIP file on Android
To send many files as one, select them in Fylo and compress them into a ZIP file. ZIP is the safest choice for sharing, because almost every phone and computer can open it without extra software.
Fixing common archive errors
- "Archive is corrupt" or "unexpected end of archive": the download probably did not finish. Download the file again, ideally on Wi-Fi.
- Multi-part archives (names like .part1.rar and .part2.rar, or .z01 and .z02): download every part into the same folder and open the first part. A missing part cannot be rebuilt.
- Wrong password: passwords are case-sensitive. Paste it if you can, and check for a space at the end.
- Not enough space: extracted files can be several times larger than the archive. Free some storage first, or extract to an SD card.
Stay safe with archives from the internet
An archive can hold anything, including apps that ask to be installed. Preview the contents before extracting, be wary of archives from sites you do not know, and do not install an APK found inside an archive unless you trust where it came from.
Questions
Can Android open RAR files without an extra app?
It depends on the phone. Android has no system-wide RAR support, and many built-in file apps only handle ZIP. A file manager with a RAR extractor, such as Fylo, opens RAR files directly.
How do I open a password-protected ZIP file on Android?
Use a file manager that supports encrypted ZIP files. In Fylo, open the archive and enter the password when asked.
Where do extracted files go?
Usually into a new folder next to the archive, named after it. Look in the same folder as the archive, which is often Downloads.
Is Fylo's ZIP and RAR extractor free?
Yes. Archive extraction is part of the free app, and Fylo has no ads.
Fylo
File manager & file explorer for Android
Fylo extracts ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR and GZ archives, opens password-protected ZIP files, previews contents before extracting and creates ZIP files. Free, with no ads.