Installing and using unzip Command to unzip a zip file using Terminal

Hello there! The easiest way to unzip a file using the Terminal (Command Line) is by making use of the unzip command.

You will get an error "bash: unzip: command not found" if you do not have to unzip the binary installed on your Linux/Ubuntu/macOS.

Step 1: Installing unzip command

Based on which Operating System you are on, make use of the package manager to get unzip installed. Below is an example using apt-get for Ubuntu,

# apt-get update
....
....

# apt-get install unzip
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  unzip
...
debconf: delaying package configuration, since apt-utils is not installed
Selecting previously unselected package unzip.
(Reading database ... 4389 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../unzip_6.0-26ubuntu3.1_arm64.deb ...
Unpacking unzip (6.0-26ubuntu3.1) ...
Setting up unzip (6.0-26ubuntu3.1) ...

Note: You may need sudo privileges.

Step 2: Using unzip command to unzip files

Example 1: Unzip a file in the current location

# unzip mydata.zip 
Archive:  mydata.zip
 extracting: a.txt 

Example 2: Unzip a file in a directory

# # unzip -d ~/myDir mydata.zip
Archive:  mydata.zip
 extracting: /root/myDir/a.txt

Make use of the -d flag followed by the directory path where you want to unzip the zip file.

Have Questions? Post them here!