Downloaded a game, mod or file pack and got a .zip, .rar or .7z file your phone can’t open? You need a file extractor. The best free one is ZArchiver. It opens almost every archive type, it’s quick, and it has no ads. Here’s how to use it.
Need ZArchiver? It’s free, has no ads and works on any Android phone.
How to unzip or unrar a file on Android
The steps are the same for ZIP, RAR, 7z and most other archives:
- Find the file. Open ZArchiver and go to the folder with your ZIP or RAR file, usually Download.
- Tap the archive. Tap the ZIP or RAR file to open the menu.
- Choose where to extract. Tap Extract here to unpack into the same folder, or Extract to ./name/ to put everything in a new folder named after the archive.
- Enter the password if asked. If the archive is protected, type the archive’s password, not your phone’s lock screen password.
- Open your files. When the progress bar finishes, the extracted files appear in the folder you chose.
Tap the archive and choose View to see what’s inside before extracting. You can also extract just one file: open the archive, long-press the file and choose Extract.
How to extract split (multi-part) RAR and 7z files
Big downloads often come in parts, like game.part1.rar, game.part2.rar or game.7z.001, game.7z.002.
- Download every part and put them all in the same folder.
- Tap only the first part (
part1.rar,.7z.001or.zipfor.z01sets) and choose Extract here. - ZArchiver joins the parts automatically. If it says a part is missing or damaged, download that part again.
How to create a ZIP file on Android
- In ZArchiver, tap the icons on the left of the files you want to select.
- Long-press one of the selected files and choose Compress.
- Pick zip (best for sharing) or 7z (smallest size), add a password if you want, then tap OK.
- “Wrong password” or CRC error: the password is wrong or the download is broken. Download the file again.
- “Not enough space”: an archive often needs 2–3 times its size in free space while extracting.
- Can’t extract into Android/obb or Android/data: newer Android versions limit access to these folders. Extract somewhere else first, then move the files.
FAQ
What is the best app to unzip files on Android?
ZArchiver is the best free option. It opens ZIP, RAR, RAR5, 7z, TAR, ISO and many more formats, supports passwords and split archives, and has no ads.
Can Android open RAR files without an app?
No. Android and Files by Google can extract ZIP files, but they can’t open RAR or 7z files. You need an app like ZArchiver.
How do I open a password-protected ZIP or RAR file?
Tap the archive in ZArchiver and choose Extract. When it asks for a password, type the password that came with the file. Your phone’s lock screen password won’t work.
Join the conversation