Extract ZIP
Extract files from a ZIP archive.
Decompresses ZIP archives and extracts constituent files directly in browser memory without writing to server disks.
The FileTools ZIP Extract tool lets you open, inspect, and extract files from .zip archives entirely inside your web browser without installing third-party unzipping utilities like WinRAR or 7-Zip. View archive folder structures, preview file names and sizes, and download individual files or extract all items at once with 100% client-side privacy.
Key Challenges Solved
- ✓ Mobile phones and Chromebooks struggling to open and preview ZIP archives without third-party apps.
- ✓ Suspicious ZIP files risking system malware if extracted with unvetted desktop unzippers.
- ✓ Needing to extract just one specific document from a massive 100MB archive without unzipping all files.
Who Is Extract ZIP Built For?
Mobile device and tablet users opening downloaded ZIP attachments without installing extractor apps
Developers inspecting archive folder structures and downloading specific asset files on the fly
Students extracting course assignment templates and datasets directly in their web browsers
Zip-Slip Protection: How FileTools Sanitizes Relative Path Traversal Attacks
Preventing malicious archive payloads from escaping directories during extraction
What We Verified
- ✓ Zip-Slip vulnerability defense: Malicious ZIP files contain filenames like "../../evil.sh" designed to overwrite critical system files upon extraction.
- ✓ Active path sanitization: FileTools strips "../", leading slashes, and Windows drive letters (C:) before saving files.
- ✓ Client-side sandboxing: Decompresses Inflate streams inside browser memory; files are only written to your standard Downloads folder upon explicit user action.
- ✓ Zero cloud extraction: Confidential archive contents are unpacked entirely on your device CPU with zero server visibility.
Why This Happens (Technical Architecture)
The Zip-Slip security vulnerability exploits naive archive extractors that trust internal filename paths verbatim. When an archive with relative paths is unpacked, files can escape the target folder. FileTools sanitizes every archive entry name with regular expressions, ensuring safe client-side extraction.
Key Features & Benefits
Instant Archive Inspection
View full file listings, folder trees, compressed sizes, and uncompressed sizes before extracting.
Selective File Extraction
Download only the specific documents or photos you need without unzipping the entire archive.
No Software Installation Required
Extract archives on school computers, locked-down work laptops, Chromebooks, and mobile phones.
100% In-Browser Security
Safely inspect archives without risk of executing untrusted malware installers on your operating system.
How to Use Extract ZIP
- Upload or drag and drop your .zip file into the extractor workspace.
- Browse the internal file listing and view individual file sizes and formats.
- Click the download icon next to any file to extract it individually, or click "Extract All".
Common Use Cases
Chromebook & Tablet Unzipping
Quickly open homework assignments and lecture notes on devices without native archive managers.
Selective Asset Retrieval
Extract a single contract or image from a large corporate archive without downloading everything.
Safe Archive Inspection
Preview file extensions inside unknown archives to verify contents before saving to disk.
Continue Your Workflow
Recommended logical next steps after using Extract ZIP:
You May Need This Before
Common preparation and prerequisite steps before Extract ZIP:
PDF to JPG
Convert PDF pages into high-quality JPG images.
← Prerequisite: PDF to JPGPDF to PNG
Convert PDF pages into high-resolution PNG images online with transparent background support.
← Prerequisite: PDF to PNGCreate ZIP
Compress multiple files into a single ZIP archive.
← Prerequisite: Create ZIPRecommended Workflows Featuring Extract ZIP
Connected step-by-step processing routines for complete document tasks:
Secure File Archive Creation & QR Sharing
Bundle multiple documents into a single compressed ZIP archive, decompress archives locally, and create a scannable QR code for distribution.
In-Memory Central Directory Parsing
FileTools parses the ZIP End of Central Directory record (EOCD) to locate file headers without decompressing unnecessary blocks. Targeted files are decompressed on-demand using fflate into native Blob objects for instant browser download.
Extracting One File from a 50MB Design Package
A marketing manager receives a 50MB ZIP file containing design assets and only needs the single vector logo.
The manager drops the ZIP into the tool, clicks the download icon next to logo.svg, and saves only the needed file.
ZIP Extract Format Support & Security Specifications
Check archive format compatibility, decompression capacity thresholds, and path safety invariants before unpacking files.
Archive Format Compatibility
| Archive Format / Extension | Support Status | Decompression Method & Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| .zip (Standard PKZIP) | ✓ Supported | Standard DEFLATE and uncompressed store archives. Decompresses directly in browser memory without software installation. |
| Password-Protected .zip | Unsupported | Encrypted ZIP archives (AES-256 or ZipCrypto) are not extractable in browser memory for security reasons. Use desktop tools like 7-Zip. |
| .rar (WinRAR) | Unsupported | Proprietary RAR compression format is not supported. Decompress using desktop WinRAR or 7-Zip. |
| .7z (7-Zip) | Unsupported | 7-Zip LZMA/LZMA2 archive format is not supported. Use native desktop utilities. |
| .tar / .tar.gz | Unsupported | Unix tape archives and tarball distributions are not unpackable in this extractor. |
Archive Limits & Security Constraints
| Operating Parameter / Constraint | Rule Type | Enforced Boundary | Technical Security Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Archive Input Size | Input Limit | 200 MB | Safe client-side compressed upload threshold to protect browser RAM from crashing on mobile devices. |
| Maximum Uncompressed Volume | Decompression Budget | 500 MB Total | Hard cutoff across all decompressed entries to prevent memory exhaustion and browser tab termination. |
| Maximum File Entry Count | Archive Item Cap | 1,000 Files | Limits total archived entries to prevent freezing the browser thread during file manifest cataloging. |
| Zip-Bomb Protection | Anti-Denial-of-Service | >200:1 Ratio Guard | Automatically aborts decompression if an entry over 5MB expands at an extreme compression ratio exceeding 200:1. |
| Zip-Slip Path Sanitization | Directory Traversal | Active Path Scrubbing | Strips '../', absolute directory slashes, and Windows drive letters (C:) from filenames to stop directory escape exploits. |
| Cloud Storage / Transmission | Zero-Server Privacy | 0 Bytes Uploaded | Archive decoding runs entirely inside your browser session. Files never leave your local computer or phone. |
Important Operational Notes & Realistic Limitations
- Password-encrypted ZIP archives (AES-256) are currently not supported; use standard unencrypted PKZIP archives.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I extract files from a ZIP archive?
Drop an archive to extract zip file contents instantly. You can unzip files online and open zip archive entries directly in the browser, with no software installation required.
Can I extract only one file without unzipping everything?
Yes. FileTools lets you browse the archive contents and click the download button next to individual files.
Does this tool support password-protected ZIP files?
Currently, standard unencrypted ZIP archives are supported. Encrypted ZIP files must be unlocked with a desktop utility.
Are the contents of my ZIP file uploaded to any server?
No. FileTools decompresses files entirely in your browser memory. Your files never leave your device.
Can I preview files inside a ZIP before extracting them?
Yes. The tool lists all files and folders inside the archive, allowing you to extract individual files or download everything.
Can I unzip files on a Chromebook, iPhone, or Android device?
Yes. Because decompression runs 100% in browser memory via WebAssembly/JavaScript, you can open, inspect folder trees, and extract files on ChromeOS, iOS Safari, and Android without third-party extraction apps. To compress files into a new archive, use ZIP Create (/zip-create).
Does extracting a ZIP file work on password-protected archives?
Standard non-encrypted ZIP archives extract instantaneously. Password-protected AES-encrypted ZIP extraction is planned for an upcoming release.