How to Use Kuba ZIP Library in Arduino: Step-by-Step Guide

Published On - December 17, 2025

Sophia Willson blog

Want to compress or read ZIP files on your Arduino? You’re in luck! The Kuba ZIP Library makes it possible to work with ZIP files even on tiny microcontrollers. In this fun and simple guide, you’ll learn how to add, unzip, and read files using the Kuba ZIP Library on your Arduino.

TL;DR

The Kuba ZIP Library lets Arduino read ZIP files directly from SD cards. You can decompress files, list their contents, or open text files inside a ZIP. To use it, install the library, setup your SD card, initialize the ZIP file, and start extracting! Perfect for reading config files, game levels, logs, or stored data without using up too much flash storage.

What is the Kuba ZIP Library?

The Kuba ZIP Library is a lightweight library for Arduino. It lets you work with ZIP files on SD cards. You can open ZIP files and access each file inside them, just like on your computer. But better—it happens on a microcontroller!

This is super handy when you want to:

  • Read multiple files without using tons of storage
  • Store game files, settings, or levels in one place
  • Create log backups or data in compressed format
  • Save memory and load only what you need

What You’ll Need

  • An Arduino board (Uno, Mega, or similar)
  • An SD card and SD card module/reader
  • ZIP file with some text files inside
  • Arduino IDE
  • The Kuba ZIP Library installed

Step 1: Install the Library

First things first—let’s get the ZIP library installed!

  1. Open the Arduino IDE
  2. Click on Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries…
  3. Search for “Kuba ZIP” in the Library Manager
  4. Select it and hit Install

Done? Great! That takes care of the library.

Step 2: Hook Up Your SD Card

The ZIP file will be read from an SD card. So, make sure your Arduino is connected to one.

  • Connect the SD card module using SPI pins
  • Use the SD card library to access files
  • Format your SD card as FAT32
  • Add a ZIP file to the root folder. Keep it simple—like data.zip

Step 3: Open a ZIP File

Let’s get into the code!

Here’s a basic setup to open a ZIP archive:

#include <SPI.h>
#include <SD.h>
#include <KubaZip.h>

File zipFile;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  if (!SD.begin(10)) {
    Serial.println("SD card failed.");
    return;
  }

  zipFile = SD.open("data.zip");
  if (!zipFile) {
    Serial.println("Couldn't open ZIP file.");
    return;
  }

  ZIPFile zip(zipFile);
  if (!zip.isOpen()) {
    Serial.println("Failed to open ZIP structure.");
    return;
  }

  Serial.println("ZIP opened successfully!");
}

void loop() { }

This opens the ZIP file called data.zip at startup. We’re using SPI and pin 10 as the SD card chip select (common on many boards).

Step 4: List Files in the ZIP

Want to see what’s inside the ZIP? Here’s how to list all the files:

ZIPFile zip(zipFile);
ZIPEntry entry;

while (zip.getNextEntry(entry)) {
  Serial.print("Found file: ");
  Serial.println(entry.filename);
}

This will print the name of every file inside your ZIP. It’s like magic—Arduino-style!

Step 5: Read a File Inside ZIP

You can even read a specific file from the ZIP without unzipping the whole thing. Here’s how:

ZIPFile zip(zipFile);
ZIPEntry entry;

while (zip.getNextEntry(entry)) {
  if (String(entry.filename) == "hello.txt") {
    char buffer[128];
    int bytesRead = 0;

    Serial.print("Reading: ");
    Serial.println(entry.filename);
    
    while ((bytesRead = entry.read(buffer, sizeof(buffer))) > 0) {
      for (int i = 0; i < bytesRead; i++) {
        Serial.write(buffer[i]);
      }
    }

    break;
  }
}

This code looks for hello.txt in the ZIP and prints its content through serial.

Step 6: Handle Big Files

If a file is too big, read it in chunks. Just like shown above, you can use a loop to read data bit by bit. This keeps your RAM usage low and your Arduino happy.

Tips and Troubleshooting

  • ZIP format: The Kuba ZIP only works with standard ZIP files without compression (store mode).
  • File names: Keep names short and all lowercase to avoid weird bugs.
  • Folder paths: No folders inside the ZIP. Just flat files like hello.txt.
  • Serial Monitor: Always check for printed errors to debug easily.
  • SD card speed: Use a faster SD card for better performance.

Bonus: Create ZIP on PC

To make compatible ZIPs on your computer:

  1. Create a new folder, put some text files inside it
  2. Select all files, right click, select Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder
  3. Rename it to something like data.zip
  4. Copy the file to SD card’s root folder

Don’t include nested folders. The Kuba ZIP likes everything simple and flat.

Why Use ZIP Files on Arduino?

Still wondering why ZIPs are useful on microcontrollers?

  • Storage: Keep multiple files in one container
  • Portability: Move lots of files easily across devices
  • Memory: Decompress only what you need, save SRAM and flash
  • Fun factor: It feels cool to unzip files with an Arduino!

What You Can Build Using This

The possibilities are crazy fun!

  • A game loader where each level is a text file
  • A settings loader for smart home devices
  • A weather logger storing daily logs in ZIP
  • A book reader that reads chapters from zipped text files

Final Thoughts

The Kuba ZIP Library turns your Arduino into a little file management genius. You now know how to open, read, and explore ZIPs like a pro. It’s lightweight, efficient, and super fun for real-world projects!

If you’re working with big data or multiple files, ZIPs keep your storage organized and clean. Go ahead. Add some zip to your Arduino skills!

Happy coding!