How to open archives on iOS / iPadOS
A complete guide to extracting and creating ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR and other archive formats on iOS / iPadOS.
Overview
iOS gained native ZIP support in iOS 13 (2019). The Files app can create and extract ZIPs with a long press. For RAR or 7z, install one of the App Store archivers like The Unarchiver, iZip, or Documents by Readdle.
What iOS / iPadOS handles out of the box
- ZIP create + extract in Files app (long-press → Compress / Uncompress)
- Mail attachment preview for ZIP
Recommended archivers for iOS / iPadOS
- The Unarchiver (iOS) — free, handles RAR and 7z
- iZip — popular freemium archiver
- Documents by Readdle — file manager with archive support
How to extract any archive
- Open the Files app
- Long-press the .zip file
- Tap "Uncompress" — the file extracts in-place
- For RAR/7z, tap the file → Share → choose your archiver app
How to create an archive
- In Files, long-press a file or select multiple with the menu
- Tap "Compress" — creates Archive.zip in the same folder
- For non-ZIP formats, use a third-party app like iZip
- Share the new archive via AirDrop, email, or iCloud Drive
Pro tips
iOS Files only supports ZIP natively — RAR and 7z require an App Store app.
iCloud Drive uploads can be slow for large archives — use AirDrop locally if possible.
Files added to the iOS Files app via "Save to Files" land in the local On My iPhone container.
Common formats on iOS / iPadOS
The formats most people encounter on iOS / iPadOS:
- ZIP
- RAR
- 7z
- TAR.GZ (tarball)
- TAR.XZ
- GZIP
- XZ
- DMG (Apple Disk Image)
- ISO (ISO 9660 image)
- CAB (Cabinet)
- APK (Android package)
- IPA (iOS App)