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File SchoolArticle 003A guide to keep

How to Open and Use Your ZIP Delivery

Download it, unpack it, and find the right files without losing the originals.

By TFX DigitalClient helpPublished
An open black zippered case holding organized glass photo, drawing, and document folios amid violet smoke
One package. Everything in its place.

The ZIP is the package.

A ZIP holds files and folders together in one download. It is useful when a project has several versions, supporting images, or instructions that should travel together. It does not turn all those files into one editable design.

Think of it as the delivery box. First save the box, then unpack its contents into a normal folder. Open and use the extracted files from there.

Only open deliveries you expected from a sender you trust. If an unexpected archive asks you to run an installer or bypass a security warning just to see your artwork, pause and check with the sender through a known contact route.

Before you begin: let the download finish and make room for both the ZIP and the extracted folder. Keep the original ZIP as your untouched delivery copy.

Open it on your device.

Use the instructions for your device below. Menu names can vary with the software version and the app handling the download. These steps are for ordinary ZIP archives; encrypted packages and other archive formats may need different software.

Windows
  1. Save the ZIP to a folder you can find, such as Downloads.
  2. In File Explorer, right-click the ZIP and choose Extract All.
  3. Choose a destination, then extract. Open the new folder before editing or uploading individual files.
Mac
  1. Find the completed ZIP download in Finder.
  2. Double-click it. The Mac expands the archive beside the ZIP.
  3. Open the extracted folder and read any delivery notes first.
iPhone or iPad
  1. Save or locate the ZIP in the Files app.
  2. Tap the ZIP to create a folder containing its files.
  3. Open that folder. Use the individual file you need when sharing or uploading.
Android with Files by Google
  1. Open Files by Google and find the ZIP.
  2. Select it and tap Extract.
  3. Leave the delete-ZIP option unchecked to keep your original, then tap Done. Open the extracted files.

Read the labels before choosing.

A project might include folders for web images, print exports, and editable source files. That arrangement depends on the work agreed and the actual delivery; not every project includes every type.

Example delivery — your folders may differ
Project delivery/
  READ-ME.pdf
  Web exports/
  Print exports/
  Source files/

Read any included notes, then choose by purpose. A small web PNG may be ideal for an upload and unsuitable for a large poster. A proof PDF may be for checking the design rather than production printing.

If a file will not open, check its extension and the software it needs. A design source can require its original application, linked images, or fonts. A viewing export can let you inspect the design even when you do not own the editing app.

Keep a clean original and a working copy.

Save the original ZIP in your project records. Make a separate working folder if you want to rename exports or try edits. Keep source projects together with their supporting folders so links do not break.

When sending a single social image, select that extracted JPG or PNG rather than the entire archive. When handing a project to another designer, ask which package and dependencies they need. Do not send just a preview if they need to edit the original.

Renaming .zip to .pdf will not convert the archive into a document. Likewise, compression does not improve image quality, and an already compressed photo or video may barely shrink.

If it will not extract.

  • Incomplete download: download a fresh copy from the original delivery link and let it finish.
  • Storage error: check free space before trying again.
  • Password request: use the agreed secure route to obtain it. Do not post passwords in a public message.
  • Missing or damaged contents: tell the sender the ZIP’s filename, your device, and the exact error. Ask them to verify or resend the package.

Do not upload private client files to an unfamiliar online extractor as a troubleshooting shortcut. A device screenshot of the error, with private details hidden, is usually a better starting point for support.

Ready to use it? You should now have an extracted folder, an untouched original ZIP, and a clear idea of which file is intended for the next job.

Need a hand with the next step?

Tell TFX what you are trying to do and where you are getting stuck.

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References & editorial notes

Practical guidance for TFX clients. Software steps and service arrangements can vary. Reviewed October 26, 2026. These primary references support the technical details.