How do I extract an archive online for free?

Upload your archive (drag-and-drop or pick a file), browse the contents in the explorer, choose the files you want, then click Extract to download them. It’s free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily limit, and the whole process runs locally in your browser.

Is this archive extractor really free?

Yes. Extracting, browsing, previewing and downloading are completely free with no account, watermark or limit. A developer API is available for automated and high-volume extraction.

Do I need to install software to extract archives?

No. Unlike WinRAR, 7-Zip or WinZip, there is nothing to install. The extractor runs in any modern browser, so it works the same on Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android and iOS.

What is the difference between an archive extractor and an archive opener?

They are the same thing described two ways: an archive opener lets you see and browse what’s inside a compressed file, and an extractor (or unzipper) writes those files back out to disk. This tool does both — browse first, then extract.

What is an archive browser?

An archive browser lets you navigate the folders and files inside an archive — with a tree view, breadcrumbs, search and preview — without fully extracting it. This is useful when you only need one file from a large archive.

Can I open an archive without extracting it?

Yes. Preview-First mode reads the archive index and lets you browse and preview files in place. You only decompress the specific files you choose to open or download.

What does “unzip files online” mean?

Unzipping is extracting files from a ZIP archive. “Unzip online” means doing it in a web browser instead of a desktop app — exactly what this tool does, with support for ZIP plus many other formats.

Is there a file-size limit for extraction?

Because extraction runs in your browser, the practical limit is your device’s available memory rather than a server cap. Multi-gigabyte archives work on desktops with enough RAM; very large or solid archives are slower and use more memory on phones.

Which archive formats can I extract?

ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, TAR.GZ/TGZ, GZIP, BZIP2, TAR.BZ2, XZ, TAR.XZ, LZMA, CAB, ISO, CPIO, LZH/LHA, AR/DEB, plus ZIP-based packages (JAR, WAR, EAR, APK, AAB). WIM, DMG and ARJ are supported best-effort depending on the variant.

How do I extract a ZIP file?

Drop your .zip in, browse the files, and extract all or a selection. ZIP is handled by a fast native path, so it opens instantly with full metadata — sizes, dates, CRC32 and compression method.

How do I extract a RAR file online?

Upload the .rar and the extractor reads it with a WebAssembly libarchive engine that supports RAR4 and RAR5. Browse and preview the contents, then download files or a ZIP of your selection — no WinRAR needed.

How do I extract a 7Z file?

Drop the .7z in. 7-Zip archives (LZMA/LZMA2) are extracted in-browser via libarchive. Because 7z is often “solid”, extracting many files decompresses the stream in a single pass for speed.

How do I extract a TAR file?

TAR archives are parsed natively and instantly. The extractor reads the ustar headers, lists every file and folder, and lets you preview and download without any decompression (TAR is not compressed by itself).

How do I extract a TAR.GZ or TGZ file?

A .tar.gz/.tgz is a TAR bundle compressed with GZIP. The tool gunzips it with the browser’s native DecompressionStream, then parses the inner TAR — so it opens quickly and entirely on your device.

How do I extract a GZIP (.gz) file?

A plain .gz usually holds a single compressed file. The extractor decompresses it natively and offers the original file for download. If the .gz wraps a TAR, it’s treated as TAR.GZ automatically.

How do I extract a BZIP2 (.bz2) file?

BZIP2 and TAR.BZ2 are decompressed in-browser via libarchive. Upload the file, browse the contents (for tar.bz2) or grab the single decompressed file (for .bz2).

How do I extract an XZ (.xz) or TAR.XZ file?

XZ uses LZMA2 compression. The extractor handles .xz and .tar.xz with libarchive, decompressing the stream and listing the inner files for browsing and download.

Can I extract an ISO image?

Yes. ISO 9660 disc images are read with libarchive, so you can browse the directory tree and pull out individual files without burning or mounting the image.

Can I extract a CAB file?

Yes. Microsoft Cabinet (.cab) files are supported via libarchive — browse the contents and extract files directly in the browser.

Can I open a JAR, WAR, EAR, APK or AAB file?

Yes. These are all ZIP-based containers, so they open with the fast native ZIP path. You can browse the manifest, classes, resources and assets, and extract any file.

Can I extract an APK to see its contents?

Yes. An Android APK is a ZIP, so you can browse AndroidManifest.xml, resources, assets and the DEX files, and extract individual items for inspection.

Can I extract a DEB or AR archive?

Yes. Debian packages and Unix “ar” archives are handled by libarchive, letting you list and extract the member files.

Can I extract a CPIO archive?

Yes. CPIO (newc/odc and old binary variants) is supported via libarchive for browsing and extraction.

Can I extract an LZH or LHA file?

Yes. Legacy LZH/LHA archives are read with libarchive on a best-effort basis — most common variants extract cleanly.

Does it support DMG or WIM images?

Partially. Apple DMG and Windows WIM images are attempted via libarchive, but only specific internal variants are extractable. For unsupported variants the tool tells you honestly rather than producing a broken result.

What about ARJ files?

ARJ is a legacy DOS format with limited library support; the extractor attempts it best-effort and reports clearly when an archive can’t be read.

Can it open Office or OpenDocument files as archives?

Yes. DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, ODT and EPUB are ZIP containers, so you can open them as archives to inspect their XML and embedded media.

How does it know what format my file is?

It reads the file’s magic-byte signature (for example PK for ZIP, Rar! for RAR, 7z‑BC‑AF for 7Z) rather than trusting the extension, then falls back to the extension only when no signature matches.

Can I browse the files inside an archive before extracting?

Yes. The archive explorer shows a full folder tree with expand/collapse, breadcrumb navigation, search, filtering and sorting — so you can find and inspect files without extracting the whole archive.

Can I preview files inside the archive?

Yes. You can preview images (JPG, PNG, WEBP, GIF, SVG), text and code (with syntax hints), PDFs, audio and video, right inside the archive — only the previewed file is decompressed.

Which file types can be previewed?

Images (JPG, PNG, WEBP, GIF, SVG, BMP, ICO, AVIF), documents (PDF, TXT, MD, CSV), code (HTML, CSS, JS, TS, JSON, XML, YAML, SQL, Python, PHP and more), audio (MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC) and video (MP4, WEBM, MOV).

Can I search for files inside an archive?

Yes. Search by file name or extension across the whole archive, including nested folders. You can also filter by category (images, documents, media, code, archives) and surface hidden, large or duplicate files.

Can I sort files in the archive?

Yes. Sort by name, size, date or type, in ascending or descending order, in both the tree and the flat list views.

Can I see file metadata without extracting?

Yes. For each entry you can see its size, compressed size, modified date, compression method, CRC32 and whether it’s encrypted — read straight from the archive’s directory, no decompression required.

Can I view file hashes (MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256)?

Yes. Open a file’s preview and the tool can compute its MD5, SHA-1 and SHA-256 hashes locally, so you can verify integrity or match against a known checksum.

Does it show hidden files?

Yes. Hidden and dotfiles are listed and counted, and you can filter to show only hidden items — useful for spotting unexpected metadata or configuration files.

Can I navigate folders with breadcrumbs?

Yes. As you open folders, a breadcrumb trail shows your location and lets you jump back to any parent folder with one click.

Can I preview a PDF inside an archive?

Yes. PDFs are rendered in an embedded viewer after the single file is decompressed in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.

Can I extract a password-protected archive?

Yes. When an archive is encrypted, the tool detects it and prompts for the password. Enter it once and you can browse and extract as normal; the password stays on your device.

How do I open a password-protected ZIP?

Upload the ZIP and, if it’s encrypted, a password prompt appears. Standard ZIP 2.0 (ZipCrypto) is decrypted by the built-in reader; WinZip AES-encrypted ZIPs are handled by the libarchive engine.

Does it support encrypted RAR and 7Z archives?

Yes. Password-protected RAR and 7Z archives are supported through libarchive — enter the password and the contents are decrypted locally for browsing and extraction.

Does it support AES-encrypted archives?

Yes. WinZip AES (AES-128/256) ZIPs and AES-encrypted 7Z archives are extracted via the WebAssembly engine when you supply the correct password.

What if the archive uses filename (header) encryption?

Some 7Z and RAR archives encrypt the file list itself. In that case you must enter the password before the tool can even list the contents; once provided, the names and files are revealed.

Is it safe to type my archive password here?

Yes. Because everything runs in your browser, your password is used locally to derive the decryption key and is never transmitted or stored on a server. It lives only in the page for the session.

Does the tool remember my password?

Only for the current session and only in memory. The password is reused while you browse and extract that archive, and it’s discarded when you remove the file or close the tab.

Can it crack or recover a lost archive password?

No. This is an extractor, not a password cracker. It needs the correct password to decrypt an archive — there is no brute-forcing or password recovery.

How do I know if my archive is encrypted?

The analysis panel shows an “encrypted” status and counts encrypted entries. Encrypted files are badged in the explorer, and a password prompt appears when you try to read them.

Why does it say my password is wrong?

The tool validates the password by decrypting a small test file. If that fails, the password is incorrect for this archive — check for typos, keyboard layout and case sensitivity, then try again.

Can I extract only specific files from an archive?

Yes. Select any files or folders in the explorer and extract just those. A single file downloads as-is; multiple files are packaged into a fresh ZIP that preserves their folder structure.

Archive Extractor Free Online – Open ZIP, RAR, 7Z & Archive Files

Every major format

ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, GZIP, BZIP2, XZ, ISO, CAB, CPIO, LZH and ZIP-based JAR/APK/AAB — native fast paths plus a WebAssembly engine.

100% private

Archives are read and extracted in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, logged or stored — ideal for confidential files.

Archive explorer

Browse the full folder tree with breadcrumbs, search, filter and sort — and preview images, code, PDFs and media in place.

Password & encryption

Open password-protected ZIP (ZipCrypto + AES), RAR and 7Z archives — your password never leaves the device.

Security & duplicates

Heuristic scan for executables, scripts, macros, zip-slip and zip-bombs, plus SHA-256 duplicate detection.

Selective & recovery

Extract single files, folders or by type; salvage readable files from damaged archives into a clean ZIP.

What is an archive extractor?

An archive extractor opens compressed archive files — ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, GZIP and many more — and restores the original files and folders inside them. Compression bundles many files into one smaller container; extraction reverses that, reading the archive’s index, decompressing each entry, and writing the files back out so you can use them.

This extractor is unusual in that it runs entirely in your browser. It detects the format from the file’s signature, uses the browser’s native code for ZIP, TAR and GZIP, and a WebAssembly build of libarchive for 7Z, RAR, BZIP2, XZ, ISO, CAB and more. Because there’s no upload, it’s fast, private and works on any device — a true online archive opener, browser and extractor in one.

Open and browse archives without extracting everything
Extract all, selected files, whole folders or by file type
Preview images, text, code, PDFs, audio and video in place
Open password-protected ZIP, RAR and 7Z archives
Scan for risky files and detect duplicates before extracting
Recover readable files from damaged archives

Why extract archives?

Archives are how files travel and get stored: a single .zip or .7z is easier to download, email and back up than hundreds of loose files, and compression saves storage and bandwidth. But to actually use what’s inside, you have to extract it.

Extracting lets you access compressed files, reclaim storage, browse and search large bundles, recover data from damaged archives, and analyse contents for the specific items you need — all without installing desktop software.

Access the files locked inside a compressed archive
Save storage and bandwidth with compressed downloads
Browse and search the contents of large archives
Recover data from corrupted or partial archives
Analyse and verify files before you open them

How to extract archives

Upload your archive

Drag in a ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, GZIP or any supported archive — or import from a URL. The tool instantly analyses it: format, version, sizes, compression ratio, file/folder counts, encryption status, a security score and an integrity check, entirely in your browser.

Browse the contents

Explore the full archive in a folder tree with breadcrumbs, search, filter and sort — without extracting everything. Preview images, text, code, PDFs, audio and video directly inside the archive, and inspect each file’s size, date, type and hashes.

Choose what to extract

Select individual files or folders, or filter by type (images, documents, media, code). Enter a password for encrypted archives, run a security scan, and find duplicates. Quick Extract pulls everything at once.

Extract & download

Download a single file as-is, or package your selection into a fresh ZIP that preserves the folder structure. Copy a share link, grab a QR code, and recover readable files from damaged archives — all on your device.

ZIP vs RAR vs 7Z

The three most common archive formats compared — all of which this extractor reads in your browser.

Feature	ZIP	RAR	7Z
Typical compression	Good	Better	Best (LZMA2)
Speed to open	Fastest (native)	Fast (WASM)	Fast (WASM)
Encryption	ZipCrypto + AES	AES-256	AES-256
Recovery record	No	Yes (optional)	No
Open standard	Yes	No (proprietary)	Yes
Universality	Everywhere	Needs software	Wide & free
Solid archives	No	Yes	Yes
Extract here	Native	libarchive	libarchive

Supported archive formats

Extract and browse all of these directly in your browser — native for ZIP/TAR/GZIP, WebAssembly for the rest.

ZIP

Universal archive — native, instant, full metadata

RAR

RAR4 & RAR5, including AES — via libarchive

LZMA/LZMA2, solid & encrypted — via libarchive

TAR

Unix tape archive — parsed natively

TAR.GZ

Gzipped TAR — native gunzip + TAR

TGZ

Short form of TAR.GZ — native

GZIP

Single-file gzip — native DecompressionStream

BZIP2

Burrows–Wheeler compression — via libarchive

LZMA2 stream — via libarchive

TAR.XZ

XZ-compressed TAR — via libarchive

TAR.BZ2

BZIP2-compressed TAR — via libarchive

CAB

Microsoft Cabinet — via libarchive

ISO

ISO 9660 disc image — browse & extract

CPIO

Unix cpio (newc/odc) — via libarchive

LZH / LHA

Legacy LHA archive — best-effort

AR / DEB

Unix ar & Debian packages — via libarchive

WIM

Windows imaging — best-effort by variant

DMG

Apple disk image — supported variants only

ARJ

Legacy DOS archive — best-effort

APK / AAB

Android packages (ZIP) — native

JAR

Java archive (ZIP) — native

WAR / EAR

Java web/enterprise (ZIP) — native

Privacy, security & data handling

This extractor is private by design. Your archive is read into your browser’s memory and processed on your device — analysis, browsing, preview, decryption and extraction all happen locally, and nothing is uploaded, logged or retained. When you remove the file or close the tab, the data is gone.

On top of that privacy, the built-in security scanner helps you judge the contents themselves: it flags executables, scripts, macros, path-traversal entries and zip-bomb ratios so you can decide what’s safe to extract. It’s a heuristic assessment, not a cloud antivirus, and we label it honestly.

Related tools

Archive Creator

Create ZIP & TAR archives

Archive Converter

Convert between archive formats

File Merger

Merge files together

Duplicate File Finder

Find & remove duplicates

Document → PDF

Convert documents to PDF

PDF → CSV

Extract tables from PDFs

Archive extraction API

Automate extraction at scale — analyse archives, list contents, preview and extract files, repair and scan, with async jobs, webhooks, API keys and team accounts.

Free

$0/mo

100 extractions / mo
ZIP · RAR · 7Z · TAR · more
Analysis & content listing
Community support

Start free

Pro

$19/mo

10,000 extractions / mo
Password & batch extraction
Async jobs & webhooks
File preview API

Go Pro

Business

$69/mo

100,000 extractions / mo
Repair & security scan API
Team accounts & API keys
Usage analytics

Choose Business

Enterprise

Custom

Unlimited volume & SLA
Scheduled extraction jobs
DLP & compliance scanning
Dedicated support

Contact sales

Frequently asked questions

107+ answers about extracting ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR and other archives online.

An archive extractor is a tool that opens compressed archive files — like ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR and GZIP — and pulls the original files and folders back out. It reads the archive’s index, decompresses each entry, and lets you browse, preview and download the contents. This extractor does all of that in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.

Troubleshooting

Why won’t my archive open?

The file may be corrupt, only partially downloaded, or in an unsupported variant. Re-download it, confirm the extension matches the real format, and try Recovery mode to salvage readable files.

It says “unrecognised or unsupported archive format” — what now?

The magic bytes didn’t match a known format. Make sure the file really is an archive (not renamed), and for exotic formats like certain DMG/WIM/ARJ variants, note that support is best-effort.

The archive is encrypted but I don’t have the password.

You must enter the correct password to read an encrypted archive — the tool can’t bypass or recover it. Contact whoever created the archive for the password.

A 7Z or RAR fails to load.

Confirm the file isn’t truncated, allow the one-time WebAssembly engine to download, and retry. Solid or unusual archives can take longer; very large ones may exceed your device’s memory.

Extraction is slow or the tab freezes.

Large or solid archives are memory-intensive. Extract a selection rather than everything, close other tabs, and use a desktop browser for multi-gigabyte files.

Preview shows nothing for a file.

Some binary or unsupported types can’t be previewed; the tool shows a hex sample instead. Download the file to open it in a dedicated app.

My download is a ZIP but I picked one file.

A single selected file downloads as-is; only when you select multiple files are they packaged into a ZIP. Make sure just one item is selected for a direct download.

The folder structure looks flat after extraction.

The output ZIP keeps the original paths. If your unzip app shows a flat list, enable “keep folder structure” there, or extract through this tool’s explorer which preserves paths.

Why does the security scan flag a file I trust?

The scan is heuristic and conservative — it flags executables, scripts and macros by type regardless of intent. If you trust the source, you can extract anyway; the flags are advisory.

Duplicate scan says “partial” — why?

To stay responsive, very large archives are sampled up to a byte limit when hashing. The duplicates found are still exact; some files beyond the cap simply weren’t hashed.