How to Zip a File on Windows, Mac, and Android (Free)

To zip a file, right-click the file or folder and choose “Compress” — on Windows select “Compress to ZIP file,” and on Mac choose “Compress [name]”. This creates a .zip file you can email or store. Every major OS includes this for free. Need to open a zip instead? See how to unzip files.

Windows

1. Right-click the file or folder you want to zip.
2. Choose Compress to ZIP file (Windows 11) or Send to → Compressed (zipped) folder (Windows 10).
3. Rename the new .zip file if you like.

Mac

1. Right-click (or Control-click) the file or folder.
2. Choose Compress “[name]”.
3. A .zip file appears in the same folder.

Android

1. Open the Files (or Google Files) app.
2. Long-press the files, tap ⋮ (More) → Compress (or Zip).
3. The .zip saves to the same folder.

iPhone

iPhone can’t create zips in the Files app directly, but Compress appears when you long-press a file in Files → Compress. For folders, use a free app like iZip.

FAQ

What does zipping a file do?

It compresses files into a single .zip archive, reducing size and bundling multiple files for easier sharing.

How do I zip multiple files?

Select all the files (Ctrl/⌘-click), then right-click and compress — they’ll combine into one .zip.

How much smaller does a zip make files?

It varies. Text and documents compress a lot (60–90%); photos, videos, and PDFs are often already compressed and shrink very little. For a PDF specifically, reducing its size works better than zipping.

Can I zip a file on my phone?

Yes. Android’s Files app compresses directly. On iPhone, long-press a file in the Files app and tap Compress (or use iZip for folders).