Restore Missing “Extract All” Option to Zip Right-Click Menu

When you right-click on a .zip file (Compressed Folder) and click “Extract All”, it extracts the contents of the .zip file to a folder, and automatically opens the folder. Extract All option may be missing because of incorrect .zip file association setting, especially after installing and uninstalling a 3rd party archive utility.

This article tells you how to get back the Extract All option to the right-click menu for Zip files.

Restore missing “Extract All” Context menu option

To restore “Extract All” to the .zip files right-click menu, follow these steps:

  • Download add_extract_all_context_menu.reg by right-clicking on the link and choosing “Save link as”, “Save Target as” or a similar option in your browser.
  • Run the file add_extract_all_context_menu.reg by double-clicking on it.
  • Click Yes when asked for confirmation.

This restores Extract All to the context menu.

restore extract all command zip files context menu

What does the .reg file contain?

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip]
@="CompressedFolder"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CompressedFolder\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers\{b8cdcb65-b1bf-4b42-9428-1dfdb7ee92af}]
@="Compressed (zipped) Folder Menu"

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.zip]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.zip\OpenWithProgids]
"CompressedFolder"=hex(0):

The registry file can be used in Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and Windows 10.

Fix the Zip button in the File Explorer ribbon

To fix the Zip command in the File Explorer ribbon if it’s not working or appears grayed out, follow these instructions:

In Windows 10:

  • Open Settings → Default apps → Set defaults by app
  • Select File Explorer → Manage
  • Associate EXPLORER.ZIPSELECTION with Windows Explorer.
    restore extract all to the right-click menu for .zip files

In Windows 8 & earlier:

Open the classic Control Panel → Default Programs → Set your default programs.

Alternatively, you can execute the following command from the Run dialog (Win + R) to launch Default Programs.

control /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms

Select File Explorer from the list, and click Set this program as default.

extract all missing zip files

That fixes the Zip button (“Explorer.ZipSelection” command) in the File Explorer ribbon.

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Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

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8 thoughts on “Restore Missing “Extract All” Option to Zip Right-Click Menu”

  1. To Ramesh,
    I have had this problem , “Extract All missing from .zip files right-click menu, for a long time. It was O.K. once then went missing. I was given advice in the past but it did not make any difference. Did what you have detailed ,with caution, as I don’t like going near the registry.
    Downloaded the same .zip file again selected and right-clicked it and there was the “Extract All” command, great.
    Never thought it would work again.
    Good advice,thank you.

    Reply

  2. Thank you for this post. I had 7-zip installed initially, but preferred the simpler Windows default unzip interface. After uninstalling 7-zip, my registry was not properly updated to reflect that 7-zip no longer existed. Your registry file worked great.

    Reply

  3. installing winzip (paid application) disables all of the windows unzip options. Unistalling this does not not revert everything back to explorer. i think it’s a trick on the part of the owners of this program to get people to reinstall the paid version, because if you don’t know the tip that you posted here you’re stuck.

    Reply

  5. Kind of funny that you are missing the extract all command yet you provide a .zip file for your download! ha ha! How am I supposed to unzip this? That is a rhetorical question, I will take it to another computer.

    Reply

    • @Lisa: You can extract it from another computer. Or use temporarily use 7-Zip in the subject computer to extract the .reg file. I can host .reg files, but clicking on it will show the file contents in the browser. Some users will get confused if I do so.

  6. Bravo!!! Needed winzip to unzip one document with trial. When trial period ended they wanted me to purchase. When I uninstalled, I needed the info that this site provides!!

    Reply

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