How to Delete Zip Files on PC or Mac

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 11, 2025

• Using Windows
|
• Using Mac

|Show more |Show less

This wikiHow teaches you how to permanently delete a Zip file, and remove all of its contents from your computer.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Windows

1. 
   1
   Open the File Explorer in a new window. You can search File Explorer, or find it on your Start menu.

   • You can also just open any folder on your computer to open a new File Explorer window.
2. 
   2
   Locate the Zip file you want to delete. Browse your folders in File Explorer, or use the Search Quick access field on the top-right corner, and find the Zip file you want to delete.
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3. 
   3
   Click your Zip file in File Explorer. This will select and highlight the Zip file.
4. 
   4
   Press ⇧ Shift+Delete on your keyboard. This keyboard combination will permanently delete the selected Zip file without moving it to your trash folder or Recycle Bin.

   • You will have to confirm your action in a new pop-up window.
   • If you just want to move the file to Recycle Bin, press Delete.
5. 
   5
   Click Yes in the confirmation pop-up. This will permanently delete your Zip file, and remove it from your PC.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Mac

1. 
   1
   Open a new Finder window. Click the blue smiling face icon the far-left end of your Dock to open Finder.
2. 
   2
   Find the Zip archive you want to delete. Browse your files, or use the Search bar on the top-right corner of the Finder window, and open the folder that contains the Zip file you want to delete.
3. 
   3
   Right-click on the Zip file you want to delete. This will open your right-click options on a drop-down menu.
4. 
   4
   Select Move to Trash on the right-click menu. This will move the selected Zip file to your computer's Trash bin.
5. 
   5
   Open your Trash folder. Click the trash bin icon on the far-right end of your Dock to open Trash in a new window.
6. 
   6
   Right-click your Zip file in Trash. This will open your right-click menu.
7. 
   7
   Select Delete Immediately on the right-click menu. This will permanently delete the selected Zip file, and remove it from your Mac.

   • Alternatively, you can select Empty Trash on the right-click menu here to delete everything in your Trash.
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