How to Create a Zip File in Windows

This wikiHow teaches you how to compress files into a zipped folder in Windows 10.

Steps

  1. Image titled Create a Zip File in Windows Step 1
    1
    Press ⊞ Win+E. This opens the Windows File Explorer.
  2. Image titled Create a Zip File in Windows Step 2
    2
    Navigate to the folder that contains files you want to zip.
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  3. Image titled Create a Zip File in Windows Step 3
    3
    Select all files you want to add to the zip. To select multiple files at once, hold the Ctrl key as you click each file.
  4. Image titled Create a Zip File in Windows Step 4
    4
    Right-click a selected file. A context menu will appear.
  5. Image titled Create a Zip File in Windows Step 5
    5
    Select Send to. Additional options will expand.
  6. Image titled Create a Zip File in Windows Step 6
    6
    Click Compressed (zipped) folder. This creates a new folder with a default file name.
  7. Image titled Create a Zip File in Windows Step 7
    7
    Type a new name for the zip and press ↵ Enter. The selected files are now compressed into the new zip file.
    • To add additional files to the zip, just drag them to the file in the File Explorer.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Can you create a zipped file that includes a zipped file? (I have 5 documents to send, one of which is a zipped file.)
    Joshua Chuah
    Joshua Chuah
    Community Answer
    You cannot incorporate a zip file within another zip file. If you need the files within the second zip file to stay inside a single folder, you can just extract the files and put them in their own folder, as zip files retain any folders that you might have inside it.
  • Question
    What does the word "zip" mean?
    Arrogance
    Arrogance
    Top Answerer
    "Move at high speed." The name was chosen to convey the idea that the original program that created zip files (PKZIP) was fast.

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About This Article

Nicole Levine, MFA
Written by:
Nicole Levine, MFA
Tech Specialist
This article was written by Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been viewed 29,370 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 4
Updated: May 27, 2018
Views: 29,370
Categories: Windows
Article SummaryX

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Select files to zip.
3. Right-click the selected files.
4. Select Send to.
5. Click Compressed (zipped) folder.
6. Name the file and press Enter.

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