Alex Ruben
How To Unzip Files and Folders in Visual Studio 2025 | Extract Projects Seamlessly
Unzipping stuff is one of those things that seem simple but can be kinda frustrating if you’re not used to the quirks. Case in point: I’ve had times where I double-click a ZIP file, and nothing happens, or Windows doesn’t give me the right options. Or worse, I try to extract into a folder and it just „fails“ without a proper explanation. So, here’s what actually worked for me after some trial and error—mostly because Windows can be weird about permissions or zip formats.
Prerequisites
Before jumping in, make sure you’ve got:
- A Windows PC, obviously.
- Visual Studio installed — get it from the official site.
- The ZIP file with your project inside. You probably downloaded it or got it somewhere.
Step 1: Find Your ZIP File
Open up your file explorer and hunt down that ZIP archive. It could live in Downloads, Desktop, or somewhere else you threw it. Sometimes, it’s hiding in weird folders, so take your time.
Step 2: Context Menu—Right-Click Is Your Friend
Right-click on the ZIP file. That opens a menu with all sorts of options.
Note: if you don’t see “Extract All” right away, check if you’re using some third-party zip software (like WinRAR or 7-Zip). Sometimes, Windows defaults get replaced or hidden. If that’s the case, install 7-Zip, which is free and reliable. You can get it from here.
Step 3: Hit “Extract All” (or use 7-Zip)
This is kind of weird, but on some machines, “Extract All” might not work initially or throws errors. If that happens, right-click again, and if you installed 7-Zip, choose 7-Zip > Extract to ‘folder_name\’. This forces it to unzip directly into a new folder.
This helps because Windows’ built-in extractor sometimes refuses to overwrite files or skips files due to permissions. “Extract All” is fine on others, but yeah, doesn’t hurt to have an alternative.
Step 4: Pick Your Destination (This Matters)
When you click “Extract All”, a dialog pops up. Hit Browse to select where you want to unzip. I usually go for a dedicated “Projects” folder. Important: don’t choose a folder with a lot of files open or protected system folders else you get weird permission errors. On some setups, you need admin privileges to write somewhere.
Step 5: Kick Off the Extraction
Press Extract. Depending on size, it might take a sec or two. You’ll see progress in the window. Sometimes, Windows just stalls or thinks about it longer — weird behavior but it’s normal sometimes.
Okay, if the extraction crashes or gives weird errors, try running your file explorer as administrator. Right-click on File Explorer and select Run as administrator. It’s a little hack that’s worth trying because permissions are tricky.
Step 6: Open Your Project Folder
Navigate to the folder where you zipped to. You should see your project files — especially the .sln file. If you see your source code folders, configuration files, and a solution file, you’re good to go.
Step 7: Launch Visual Studio
Open Visual Studio. Usually, it’s quick, but in some cases, especially if you’ve got a lot of plugins or updates pending, it might be slow.
Step 8: Load the Project
Click on File > Open > Project/Solution. Or just drag the .sln file into VS. If Visual Studio doesn’t recognize your project, double-check that the .sln is present — that’s your project’s main file.
Step 9: Hit the Solution File
Find the .sln file inside the unzipped folder, click it, then choose Open. Your project should load, and if you see errors, maybe some dependencies need to be restored, or the project isn’t compatible. Usually, just opening the solution works fine, though.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Some quick heads-up:
- If the project doesn’t load or Visual Studio throws weird errors, verify the
.slnis for the correct VS version. You might need to upgrade or open it with an older version if you have multiple installed. - Sometimes, Windows defaults to locking files or not giving permissions. Running File Explorer as admin helps. Also, check if your antivirus is blocking extraction.
- On occasion, ZIP files downloaded from browsers get corrupted. If nothing works, try re-downloading.
Conclusion
If that didn’t help, here’s what might:
- Use 7-Zip instead of Windows’ native unzip. It handles most formats better and is less flaky.
- Ensure no antivirus or security software is blocking extraction or access to the files you’re working with.
- Double-check that the ZIP is not corrupted or encrypted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of files can I unzip?
Mostly ZIP, but 7-Zip and WinRAR support more formats like RAR, 7z, tar, etc. Windows’ default can handle ZIP pretty well, though.
Do I need special software to unzip files?
Not really. Windows has built-in tools, but 7-Zip is a lifesaver if you run into unsupported formats or errors.
Can I unzip files without using Visual Studio?
Hell yeah. Just unzip normally in Explorer, then open the project folder in Visual Studio. The project isn’t packed or anything.