How to Extract or Compress a Zip File Using File Manager

Your hosting File Manager can extract and create zip archives directly on the server, so you do not have to upload or download hundreds of individual files one at a time. This is the fastest way to move a WordPress theme, a plugin, or a full site backup onto your hosting account.

Why This Matters

Uploading a single zip file is much faster than uploading an entire folder of files over FTP, especially on a slower connection. Once the zip is on the server, you can extract it in place with a couple of clicks. The same works in reverse: if you need to download a full backup or send several files to someone, compressing them into one zip first is quicker and easier to manage than sending files individually.

How to Extract a Zip File

In cPanel

1. Log in to cPanel and open File Manager.
2. Navigate to the folder where your zip file is located (for example, public_html if you already uploaded it there).
3. Click once on the zip file to select it. Do not double-click, as that will try to open it.
4. Click Extract in the top toolbar.
5. Confirm or change the destination path in the dialog that appears, then click Extract File(s).
6. cPanel will show you a list of the files it extracted. Click Close when done.

In DirectAdmin

1. Log in to DirectAdmin and open File Manager.
2. Browse to the folder containing your zip file.
3. Tick the checkbox next to the zip file.
4. Click Extract in the toolbar above the file list.
5. Confirm the destination folder when prompted, then confirm the extraction.

How to Compress Files Into a Zip Archive

In cPanel

1. In File Manager, navigate to the folder containing the files or folders you want to zip.
2. Select the items by ticking their checkboxes, or hold Ctrl while clicking to select multiple items.
3. Click Compress in the top toolbar.
4. Choose Zip Archive as the compression type.
5. Confirm or edit the archive's file name, then click Compress File(s).

In DirectAdmin

1. In File Manager, tick the checkboxes next to the files or folders you want to include.
2. Click Archive (sometimes shown as a compress icon) in the toolbar.
3. Enter a name for the new zip file when prompted, then confirm.

If you are extracting a full site backup into a folder that already has files in it, existing files with the same name will usually be overwritten without a warning. Extract into an empty folder first if you are not sure, then move the files over once you have checked them.

Very large zip files (several hundred megabytes or more) can time out during extraction on shared hosting. If extraction fails or stalls, try splitting the content into smaller zip files, or use SSH if you have access to it.

For more on working with files in your control panel, see How to Use the cPanel File Manager to Upload and Edit Files or How to Use the DirectAdmin File Manager to Upload and Edit Files.