Chromebook supports .zip and .rar compressed or archived files. So, if you are unable to open a Zip file on your Chromebook, chances are you are trying to open it the wrong way.
The right way is to first extract or unzip the .zip file in the Files app.
Here’s how to do that:
- Open the Files app.
You can also open it using the Alt + Shift + M keys shortcut.
- Right-click on the archive file that you want to extract (unzip).
- Select the Extract all option from the context menu.
Now, your Chromebook will extract the ZIP archive file to a folder with the same name as the zip file.
For example, if the zip file is named my-folder.zip, the extracted files will be in a folder named my-folder.
If you can’t see the Extract all option in the context menu, the quick fix is to hardware reset your Chromebook. Here’s how to do that:
Don’t worry; you won’t lose any data on your Chromebook.
- Turn off your Chromebook.
- Wait for 1 minute.
- After 1 minute, press and hold the Power and Refresh buttons on the keyboard together until your Chromebook starts up.
Still don’t see the option to unzip the files? Update your Chromebook. Here’s how to do that:
- Click on time at the bottom right corner of the taskbar and select Settings.
- Click on About ChromeOS.
- Click on Check for Updates.
If any new update is available, your Chromebook will install them.
I hope after following the above steps, you were able to open zip archive file on your Chromebook. Any questions? Feel free to ask me!
