The iPhone is undoubtedly a powerful device. It has, more so, proven itself exceptional at managing, compressing and sharing files. But what if you want to open that zip file on your phone? Well, up until recently, this was a problem for many iPhone users. Its iOS 7, for instance, could only support extraction with mail or messages. However, this is a thing of the past. Its later operating systems (from iOS 11 onward) now fully support zip files using its built-in Files app, which means you don't need any third-party apps to open zip files and extract files.
This guide will help you manage all the nuances of opening a zip file on an iPhone. We'll cover how to extract the compressed folder in the Documents app, where to find it in iCloud Drive or Dropbox, and also how to use third-party apps like WinZip Mobile Lite if your phone doesn't support the updated OS.
A zip file is a compressed folder that contains one or more files. They are often used as downloadable archives on the internet to save space and for better download performance. For instance, if you have a file that is too large to send as an attachment via email, you can simply compress it into a ZIP file and send it in a smaller format. The recipient would then download and extract it from their end. Zip files are what you need if you want to store a lot of large files in one device without taking up too much room.
Now, there are many free programs that can create, extract, and even modify zip files - some examples of these programs are WinZip, 7-Zip, PeaZip, etc.
One thing to note about all of these programs is they will have different interface designs, but once you know how to use one program, it should be easy enough to figure out any other program with similar functionality.
The programs work two ways; they allow you to create or open compressed files.
Using WinZip, you can open different formats of compressed files, such as Zip files (.zip or .zipx), RAR files, or 7z files. The files could be received from an email, or you can download one from the internet. In this case, WinZip comes handy because it can view or play other formats of files (which might not be the case for in-built apps). They include:
To open a zip file, you only need to follow a few steps:
WinZip has been used by people for more than 20 years to compress files on their computers. It is a great way to take your large files and shrink them down, making them easier to transport or send using email.
Compressing files can also help conserve storage space on your computer, which can come in handy if you are running low on phone storage. In this post, we have given instructions on how you can use the WinZip app right from your iPhone.
