How to Enable or Disable “Show Extracted Files When Complete” from ZIP in Windows 11

Accessing your recently extracted zipped files has been made easier by this Windows 11 feature. File Explorer automatically opens the destination folder after extraction. Users can enable this feature by ticking a checkbox labeled “Show extracted files when complete” that appears in the extraction dialog.

While helpful for some, this Windows behavior can be intrusive or undesirable in managed, kiosk, or scripted environments. This guide will teach you how to configure this feature to improve the user experience based on your preference.

Prerequisites

Before you proceed, here are some considerations:

• Access privileges: Depending on the method, here are the access privilege requirements:
  • Administrator rights are not required to toggle the setting via the GUI.
  • However, Registry edits require administrator privileges for scripting or enforced deployment.
• Windows version: The methods in this guide apply to all editions of Windows 11.
• Per-user settings: Note that changes apply per user, unless managed centrally.

Method 1: Enable or disable via extraction wizard (GUI)

This method is ideal for most users and is accessible through the built-in ZIP extraction wizard in File Explorer.

1. Right-click any .zip file and select Extract All….
2. In the extraction dialog, look for the “Show extracted files when complete” checkbox.
3. Depending on your preference:
   • Check the box to enable the option.
   • Uncheck the box to disable it.
4. Proceed with the extraction as usual.

Method 2: Enable or disable via Registry Editor

This is the best method for system administrators who need to enforce the setting consistently across multiple user profiles through scripting.

1. Open the Registry Editor by pressing the Windows key + R. Type regedit and press Enter. If the UAC prompt appears, accept it.
2. Navigate to the following Registry path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ExtractionWizard
3. If the ExtractionWizard key doesn’t exist, right-click and create it
4. Create or modify a DWORD (32-bit) value named ShowExtractedFiles:
   • Name: ShowExtractedFiles
   •  Value:
     • 1 = Enabled (show extracted folder after extraction)
     • 0 = Disabled (do not open folder after extraction)
5. Close Registry Editor.
6. Log out or restart Windows Explorer to apply the change.

PowerShell script for automation

PowerShell provides an efficient method to configure the registry key for enterprise administrators or power users who need to automate this setting via scripts.

1. To disable “Show extracted files when complete”:

New-Item -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ExtractionWizard" -Force

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ExtractionWizard" `

-Name "ShowExtractedFiles" -Value 0

2. To enable it again:

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ExtractionWizard" `

-Name "ShowExtractedFiles" -Value 1

This PowerShell method is useful for startup or logon scripts, Group Policy preferences, or configuration during software installations. This method also allows system administrators to enforce the setting without requiring user interaction or manual registry edits.

Why manage the “Show extracted files when complete” feature?

Users prefer to configure this Windows 11 setting for several reasons. Here are some of them:

• Prevent interruptions: Disabling the feature prevents pop-ups or windows from opening after extraction tasks or bulk extractions, which could be disruptive for some.
• Streamline workflows: In managed environments, managing the feature can help speed and streamline the extraction process for enterprise or deployment workflows.
• User experience customization: Users configure this setting based on their preferences, which may vary from one individual to another.
• Standardization: Enforcing consistent device settings ensures uniform behavior in shared or kiosk systems.

Additional considerations

• Roaming profiles: The setting follows the user profile in domain environments since the setting is stored per user.
• Third-party tools: This setting applies only to File Explorer’s built-in ZIP extraction. This means the changes don’t affect third-party extraction tools like 7-Zip, WinRAR, or others.
• Group Policy: No native GPO exists for this setting. For managed environments, using the Registry Editor or PowerShell is recommended.
• Folder visibility: Disabling this setting does not prevent users from opening the folder manually after extraction.

Configuring the “Show extracted files when complete” from ZIP in Windows 11

The “Show extracted files when complete” option in Windows 11 opens the folder where the files are saved after extraction. This feature can improve usability for casual users but may disrupt workflow in enterprise or scripted environments, so some users prefer to disable it.

The setting can be configured using the graphical user interface via a checkbox for quick manual control for casual users. Meanwhile, advanced users can utilize the Registry Editor or PowerShell to enforce or automate the setting, ensuring a smoother experience during bulk operations or in standardized deployments. Choosing the right method depends on your environment and how consistently you need the setting applied across systems.