It is recommended that you always download the latest version of Zen Cart from the source.  This way you can be certain that it is a safe and secure version (free from additional and/or malicious code) and that it is the most up-to-date version available.

1. Visit the official Zen Cart home page at www.zen-cart.com.
2. From the home page click on the Download button in the top right hand corner.
   
3. This link takes you to a web site SourceForge.net.  SourceForge.net is the world’s largest open source software development web site that provides tools such as source code management and bug tracking tools, for projects such as Zen Cart.
4. The link from the Zen Cart web site takes you directly to download the latest version of the Zen Cart Distribution file.
   
5. Select to save the file and OK (Firefox) or Save (Internet Explorer).
   
6. The Zen Cart files are compressed in to the .zip file you have just downloaded.

There are two options here – extract the .zip file and then FTP all folders and files to your web server or, the recommended option, upload the single .zip file to your server and then extract the files.

Option 1 (Recommended)

Skip straight to Upload the Zen Cart .zip file to your web server.

Option 2

1. You will need to first extract the files (unzip) to a location on your computer or network.  Right click on the saved .zip file and select Extract All … (you may have something slightly different on your machine).
   
2. Follow the steps to unzip the distribution file.  This example includes the steps for Windows XP, however it is very similar for most setups.  Click Next.
   
3. Browse to the location you would like to extract the Zen Cart files to.  Click Next.
   
4. Once completed, click Finish to close the Extraction Wizard window.
5. You will now see all the files that make up the Zen Cart shopping cart application.  Take a note of the location of these files, you will need this when you upload the files to your web server.