How to View and Unzip ZIP Files in Google Drive (Computer, Android, iPhone)

Double-click the ZIP file in Drive and you’ll see a list of everything inside it. To actually open those files, you have to unzip the archive first, either with an extractor app, on your computer, or on your phone.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to view ZIP files in Google Drive and how to unzip them five different ways. I’ll use the project archive my office manager sends me at the end of each month at Bluebird Landscaping, so you can see exactly what Drive shows.

Method 1: Peek inside a ZIP file with the Drive preview

Drive treats archives like any other file it stores. Google lists .ZIP, .RAR, tar, and gzip files among the types Drive keeps and previews, so you don’t need anything extra just to look. It’s the same preview that helps when you open unsupported files in Google Drive.

1. Go to drive.google.com and open the folder with the ZIP file.
2. Double-click the ZIP file.

My May archive opened in a preview window titled “Bluebird Project Files May 2026.zip” with “5 items” next to it: the crew handbook, a CSV of second-quarter invoices, two job photos, and our spring price list.

You can also right-click the ZIP and choose Open with > Preview, or select it and press Ctrl+Alt+P.

How does this work? The preview reads the archive’s table of contents and shows the file names. It doesn’t extract anything, so it’s a quick way to check you’ve got the right archive before you unzip it.

Don’t expect more than names, though. The Last modified and File size columns showed a dash for every file, and clicking a file only gave me Copy file name.

Method 2: Unzip into Drive with an extractor app

If you want the files back in Drive without downloading anything, use a connected app. Drive suggests a few right in the preview.

1. Open the ZIP preview (Method 1).
2. Click Open with at the top.
3. Under Suggested third-party apps, pick an extractor such as ZIP Extractor, or click Connect more apps to search the Google Workspace Marketplace.

The first time, the app asks to connect to your Google account. After that, you generally pick the ZIP, choose a Drive folder, and the app saves the unzipped files there.

How does this work? These apps are made by other companies, not Google. Connecting one gives it access to your Drive, so read the permissions screen before you click Allow. I’d also be careful with archives from people I don’t know; my guide to scanning Google Drive for viruses explains what Drive checks.

Pro tip: On a work or school account, your Google Workspace admin can block Marketplace apps. If Connect more apps won’t let you install an extractor, use Method 3 instead or ask your admin.

Method 3: Download the ZIP and unzip it on your computer

This is what I do most days, because Windows and Mac can both unzip files without any extra software.

1. In Drive, right-click the ZIP file.
2. Click Download.
3. On Windows, right-click the downloaded ZIP in File Explorer and choose Extract All. On a Mac, double-click it in Finder.

If the download doesn’t start, my fix list for when you cannot download files from Google Drive covers the usual causes.

How does this work? The ZIP downloads as one file, and your computer’s built-in tool unpacks it into a regular folder. If you use Drive for desktop, the ZIP is already in your Google Drive folder in File Explorer or Finder, so you can unzip it right there.

One thing that trips people up: when you download a whole folder or several files from Drive, Drive zips them for you. Here’s how to download from Google Drive without zipping.

Method 4: Unzip a Drive file on an Android phone

Android can do this with Google’s own Files by Google app, which comes on many phones.

1. In the Google Drive app, tap More next to the ZIP file, then tap Download.
2. Open Files by Google and go to the folder with the ZIP file.
3. Tap the file, tap Extract, then tap Done.

The unzipped files land in the same folder as the ZIP. Files by Google only extracts .zip files, so a .RAR needs a different app.

How does this work? The Drive app saves a copy to your phone, and Files by Google unpacks it locally. If Data Saver is on, the Download option doesn’t show in the Drive app, so turn it off first. More on that in my guide to saving files from Google Drive to your phone.

Method 5: Unzip a Drive file on an iPhone or iPad

Apple’s Files app unzips archives with one tap.

1. In the Google Drive app, tap More next to the ZIP file.
2. Tap Open in > Save to Files.
3. Choose a location and tap Save.
4. Open the Files app and tap the ZIP file.

How does this work? Files creates a new folder next to the ZIP with the extracted items inside. I use this on job sites when a client sends photos as one archive.

Things to keep in mind

• The preview is read-only. It shows names, not contents, and it never extracts files into Drive.
• Unzipped files count toward storage. If you extract into Drive and keep the ZIP, you’re storing everything twice. Delete the ZIP once you’ve checked the files.
• Big archives are slow. Large ZIPs take a while to download, and a busy shared file can hit a limit; here’s what to do about download quota exceeded in Google Drive.
• Personal vs. Workspace. Preview and download work the same in a free Gmail account and a Google Workspace account. The difference is third-party apps, which a Workspace admin can turn off.
• Zipping before you upload can help with folders full of small files. My tips to upload large files to Google Drive cover when that’s worth it.

Want to keep going with Drive? These are good next reads:

• reduce file size in Google Drive
• see the size of a folder in Google Drive
• fix Drive for desktop when it won’t launch
• all my Google Drive tutorials

Frequently Asked Questions