How to zip and unzip files and folders in Windows
Compress files and folders into a ZIP in Windows 11 and Windows 10 with Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder, add files to a ZIP later, drag out a single file or open everything with Extract All, plus RAR, 7z and TAR support in Windows 11, version 24H2 and the limit on password-protected archives.
A ZIP file is the handiest way to email a batch of photos or documents or a whole folder as one file, upload it somewhere or make it take up less space. You don't need to install a separate program in Windows: zipping and unzipping are built into the File Explorer right-click menu.
This guide walks you through zipping files and folders in Windows 11, adding files to a ZIP, extracting the contents one by one or all at once, and which archive formats are supported; the difference in Windows 10 is covered in the questions section. The menu names come from Microsoft's own support page.
- Time5 minutes
- DifficultyEasy
- Steps8
๐งฐ What you need
- A computer running Windows 11 or Windows 10
- The files or folder you want to compress, or the ZIP file you want to open
- Enough free disk space for the files you extract
Steps
- Find and select the files in File ExplorerPress the Windows logo key + E to open File Explorer and go to where the file or folder you want to compress is. To compress several files together, hold down Ctrl and click each one; press Ctrl + A to select everything in the folder. If you want to send a whole folder, just select the folder itself.
- Right-click and select Show more optionsRight-click one of the selected files or the folder; on a touch screen, press and hold. In Windows 11, select "Show more options" from the short menu that appears to open the longer, classic menu. Windows 10 doesn't have this step: the classic menu opens straight away when you right-click.
- Select Send to > Compressed (zipped) folderIn the classic menu, point to "Send to" and select "Compressed (zipped) folder". A new zipped folder, in other words a ZIP file, with the same name is created in the same location; if you selected several files, the ZIP takes the name of the file you right-clicked. Large files may take a little while.
- Give the ZIP a clear nameTo rename it, right-click or press and hold the ZIP file, select "Rename", type the new name and press Enter. If file name extensions are visible, don't delete the ".zip" part of the name, or the file may not be recognised.
- Drag files in to add them laterTo add files or folders to a ZIP you created earlier, drag them onto the ZIP file in File Explorer and drop them. The items you add are copied into the ZIP; the original files stay where they are.
- Drag out a single fileDouble-click the ZIP file; it opens like a normal folder and you can see what's inside. Drag just the file or folder you need from here to the desktop or another folder. If you're going to edit a document or install a program, extract the file from the ZIP first; you may run into problems saving a file opened from inside the ZIP.
- Open everything with Extract AllRight-click or press and hold the ZIP file and select "Extract All...". The window that opens shows the folder the files will be extracted to; by default, it's a folder with the same name as the ZIP, in the same location. To extract somewhere else, select "Browse" and choose a folder, then select "Extract" and follow the instructions. When it's done, you can use the extracted files as you would in any normal folder.
- Open RAR, 7z and TAR archives in Windows 11According to Microsoft, Windows 11, version 24H2 supports RAR, 7z and TAR archive formats as well as ZIP, and this version also added support for creating 7z and TAR archives to the File Explorer context menu (under "Compress to"). You can check which version you have in Settings > System > About. Windows can't open or create password-encrypted archives; for those, Microsoft suggests using a non-Microsoft app such as 7-Zip or WinRAR.
โ This guide is general information. Yudum cannot be held responsible for the outcome of following it; for official procedures always rely on the institution's own statement. Steps and fees change over time.
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