Right-click the selected file(s) or folder. To use this shortcut, hold the key and use your mouse to select or highlight each file you wish to compress.Ģ. You can place your files into a folder ahead of time or select them using the Ctrl key. Select the file, files or folder you want to zip.

To create a zip file on a PC, you’ll want to use the “Send to” option:ġ. Related: 6 Types of Operating Systems (With Functions and Examples) How to create a zip file on Windows When converting a file or folder to a zip file, it's important to know what system you're using because the steps are different for each one. There are three major operating systems that your computer may use: For example, software downloads regularly use zip files to transfer program files in minutes versus what would otherwise take hours. Because the file compresses the data, it takes up less storage space. A zip file will appear as a folder on your computer. Zip is an archive file format that uses “lossless data compression,” a method that means any zipped data will not be lost in the process. In this article, we discuss zip files and go over the process of how to create a zip file on a Windows, Linux or Mac operating system. Knowing how to create zip files can help you free up memory space, decrease upload times and send files more easily.

Saving space on your computer, sending many files at once or using large files in a project are all reasons you may want to create a zip file.

How to compress a zip file on mac