How to zip files on your computer or phone to save space
Redeem now - When you "zip" a file, you'll compress its data and reduce how much space it takes up on your computer or phone.
- Nearly all devices have built-in tools that let you zip (and later unzip) files.
Over time, your collection of photos, videos, documents, and games can take up a lot of space. Fortunately, there's a way to free up storage space without having to delete anything.
You can compress multiple files into a ZIP file, which reduces their file size without deleting anything. Zipping files is a great way to share them, or to store files you don't open often.
Here's how to zip files on every popular device and operating system.
How to zip files on a Windows PC
1. Select all the files you want to zip. You can either drag a box around them, or hold Ctrl and click each one individually.
2. Right-click one of the files and select Send to, then select Compressed (zipped) folder.
3. A ZIP file will appear containing all the compressed data. Feel free to rename or move this file however you'd like.
If you want more control over how files get compressed, try using an app like WinZip or WinRar.
How to zip files on a Mac
1. Select all the files you want to zip. You can either drag a box around them, or hold Command and click each one individually.
2. Right-click one of the files and select Compress.
3. A ZIP file will appear containing all the compressed data. Feel free to rename or move this file however you'd like.
How to zip files on Chromebook
1. In the Files app, select all of the files that you want to zip. You can either drag a box around them, or hold Ctrl and click each one individually.
2. Right-click one of the files and select Zip selection.
3. A ZIP file will appear containing all the compressed data. Feel free to rename or move this file however you'd like.
How to zip files in Linux
Unlike other systems, you'll need to use the command line to zip files on a Linux computer.
1. Open a command window by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.
2. In the command window, type:
zip [what you want the zip file to be called].zip [files you want to zip]
So for example, if you wanted to zip a text file called "cat" and an image called "dog" into a ZIP file called "animals," you'd type:
zip animals.zip cat.txt dog.jpg
Your files will "deflate" — Linux's term for compressing — and then form the ZIP file. It'll appear in the same directory as the original files, and you'll see a percentage showing how compressed each file is.
What to do if Linux says 'zip' isn't valid
The zip command doesn't always come installed by default. If Linux won't recognize it, you'll need to install it.
To fix this, first type and submit:
sudo apt install zip
or
sudo yum install zip
And then try the zip command again. Use the first if you're running Ubuntu or Debian, or the second if you're running Fedora or CentOS.
If you want to zip files using an app instead of command strings, consider downloading an app like PeaZip.
How to zip files on an iPhone or iPad
1. Open the Files app and find the files that you want to zip up.
2. On an iPhone, tap the three dots (...) in the top-right corner and then Select. On an iPad, just tap Select in the top-right corner.
3. Tap all the documents you want to zip.
4. Select the three dots (iPhone) or More (iPad) in the bottom-right corner and hit Compress.
A ZIP file will be saved to the folder you selected.
How to zip files on an Android
Depending on your Android device, you may have the File Manager app as a built-in way to create ZIP files. But if it's missing, downloading a third-party app like WinZip is an easy way to zip your files. Just note that to use all of WinZip's features, you'll need to buy the premium version.
Using File Manager
1. Open the File Manager app and move all the flies you want to compress to a single folder.
2. Tap on the three dots in the right-hand corner.
3. Select all the items you want to zip, and at the bottom tap Compress.
4. Then select Save and a new folder will be created with the compressed files.
Using WinZip
1. Download and open WinZip, then give it access to your files when asked.
2. You'll see a list of folders, each with a different type of media on your device. Head to the folder of your choice.
3. If you're selecting a single file, hit the three dots directly to the right of it. If you're selecting multiple files, hold your finger down on one and then select all the files you'd like.
4. Tap Zip.
5. Choose the save location (Storage, Google Drive, etc.) and select Zip here.
Ron Lyons, Jr. Freelance Writer Ron Lyons, Jr is a freelance journalist who has written for Insider's Personal Finance team. Previously he worked on the Insider's Tech desk creating how-to tutorials. Read more Read less William Antonelli Tech Reporter for Insider Reviews William Antonelli (he/she/they) is a writer, editor, and organizer based in New York City. As a founding member of the Reference team, he helped grow Tech Reference (now part of Insider Reviews) from humble beginnings into a juggernaut that attracts over 20 million visits a month. Outside of Insider, his writing has appeared in publications like Polygon, The Outline, Kotaku, and more. He's also a go-to source for tech analysis on channels like Newsy, Cheddar, and NewsNation. You can find him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher, or reach him by email at wantonelli@businessinsider.com. Read more Read lessncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxnpJqwqXvHqK5mrJ9ix6q8jJpkn6Gcmg%3D%3D