In this tutorial, learn how to unzip ZIP files in Google Drive without downloading first.
WinZip and 7-Zip are two programs that can be found on the desktop. But what if the ZIP file is stored on Google Drive, and you want to unzip it without having to download it?
You’ll need a tool to unzip compressed files no matter where you are. After all, ZIP files are the web’s digital couriers, second only to PDFs in terms of file distribution.
You can manually unzip files on your desktop, and you also have access to programs like WinZip and 7-Zip. What if the ZIP file is stored on Google Drive?
Working With ZIP Files in the Cloud
There is currently no method to unzip a compressed ZIP file shared from a cloud drive without downloading it to your desktop. You can unzip the file and then work with the contents from your desktop. However, this is inconvenient and time-consuming, especially if you need to re-upload the items into Google Drive.
If this sounds all too similar, you should consider using the ZIP Extractor addon.
ZIP Extractor is a Chrome addon that lets you extract files from a Google Drive ZIP package. If you perform a lot of cloud work and don’t want to deal with the hassle of unzipping, this add-on can save you a lot of time.
From the Chrome Web Store, download the Chrome extension. Alternatively, navigate to Google Drive account > New > More > Connect more apps. Install ZIP Extractor by searching for it.
For extraction, you can now choose any archived file on Google Drive. For ZIP files stored in the Drive, select the file and right-click to Open with the ZIP Extractor. The extension will ask you to approve ZIP Extractor to access Google Drive the first time you use it. After that, there are a few steps in the unzip process:
1. You can choose which files to extract on the ZIP Extractor screen. All files are selected by default.
2. To extract into a new folder within the current folder, select Extract Now. You have the option of changing the destination folder.
3. The extracted file is put in the same folder as the ZIP archive.
View the extracted file, share it, or extract another file using the ZIP Extractor interface. You can now use Google Drive to deal with the retrieved files. Keep in mind that because the decompression takes place in the cloud, the speed of the process depends on your bandwidth.
If you’ve any queries, check this video:
Take Care of Unzip Operations in the Cloud
Learning to unzip compressed files is easy if you have the correct knowledge. ZIP Extractor is a straightforward but effective add-on that enhances the functionality of your Drive. Yes, there are a few minor flaws—for example, you can’t simply download the unzipped files to your desktop—but that’s a minor annoyance.
