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How to Extract ZIP, RAR, and 7z Files on a Chromebook

Use Files for the documented Chromebook ZIP workflow. For RAR, try Files; for 7z or unsupported archives, a compatible Android app may help if your Chromebook and account allow it.

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For ZIP files, use the Chromebook’s Files app: double-click the archive to browse it, or use Extract all for Google’s documented workflow to extract a group of zipped files into a folder. Google lists RAR as a supported compressed format, but does not give the same step-by-step instructions for it. For 7z—or if Files cannot handle a particular RAR—RARLAB’s RAR Android app is an option on Chromebooks that support Google Play and allow app installation.

How to unzip a ZIP file on a Chromebook

  1. Open the Files app and find the ZIP archive. It may be in Downloads, Google Drive, or another location where you saved it.
  2. Double-click the ZIP file. Google says the archive appears in the left pane; double-click an item inside it to open that item.
  3. To extract a group of zipped files into a folder, right-click the folder and select Extract all. Google documents this command for that ZIP workflow; it does not establish that the same command applies to every archive format.

Opening a ZIP lets you browse its contents; it does not necessarily mean you have extracted those files into a regular folder. For Google’s steps, see Open, save, or delete files on your Chromebook.

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How to open RAR files on a Chromebook

Google includes .rar in its list of compressed file types that work on Chromebooks. That list is not a detailed RAR extraction tutorial, so try opening the file in Files and use an available open or extract action if it works on your device. If Files does not handle it, use a compatible archive utility instead. Google’s format information is in File types and external devices that work on Chromebooks.

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How to extract 7z files on a Chromebook

Google’s supported compressed-file list names ZIP and RAR, but not 7z, so it does not establish a universal native 7z extraction workflow for ChromeOS. One option is RAR by RARLAB, whose Google Play listing says the Android app can unpack 7z, RAR, ZIP, and other archive formats and lists Chromebook compatibility.

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  1. Check whether your Chromebook can use Google Play and whether you are allowed to install Android apps.
  2. Install RAR by RARLAB from Google Play if it is available and permitted on your device.
  3. Open the app, locate the archive, and use its extraction controls. The exact steps may vary by app version and file.

The Google Play listing was updated July 22, 2026. Its Chromebook compatibility listing does not mean the app is available on every Chromebook or managed account.

Check whether your Chromebook can install Android apps

Google Play is available only on some Chromebooks. On a school- or work-managed device, an administrator may block adding apps or downloading Android apps. Google says that if the Google Play Store setting is absent, the Chromebook does not work with Android apps. See Google’s instructions in Install and use Android apps on your Chromebook; on a managed device, ask the administrator about permitted options.

For older models, support can depend on the specific device. Chromium’s compatibility page says devices launched in or after 2019 support Android apps unless otherwise specified; availability on older devices depends on device-by-device rollout and compatibility. Check your model rather than assuming support based on the Chromebook brand: Chrome OS systems supporting Android apps.

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Common extraction problems

  • The archive opens, but files are not in a regular folder: Browsing an archive and extracting files are different. For a group of zipped files, use the documented Extract all action when it is available.
  • The archive is 7z: Google’s compressed-file list does not name this format. Try a compatible archive app such as RAR by RARLAB if Google Play is supported and app installation is allowed.
  • The Chromebook is managed: App installation may be blocked by school or workplace policy. Ask the administrator which option is permitted.
  • The archive is on a USB drive, SD card, or other removable storage: ChromeOS support for external storage and filesystems is described in Google’s file types and external devices guide. When finished, safely eject removable storage from Files; Google’s Files instructions cover ejection.

No format listing guarantees that every archive will extract. Encryption, corruption, multipart archives, and app compatibility can affect an individual file.

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