How to compress files and folders in Windows 11

Look How to compress files and folders in Windows 11. You can compress files and folders in Windows 11 to save space and share multiple files easily. 

Since Windows XP, Microsoft has included the ability to compress files and folders to share data and save space.

Zip files remain the gold standard for compressing and archiving files on most Windows PCs.

When you “zip” one or more files together, it compresses the files to save drive space and allows you to share multiple files in a single container over a network, using cloud storage or via email.

You can compress files and folders using Windows File Explorer or using a free third-party utility such as 7-Zip, WinRaR, or PeaZip.

We will show you how to zip and unzip files in Windows 11 in this guide.

How to Compress Files in Windows 11 with File Explorer

Since Windows natively supports the .zip format, one of the most straightforward ways in Windows to compress files and folders is using File Explorer.

To compress files and folders from File Explorer:

1. Open File Explorer from the taskbar.
2. Open the location of the files you want to compress and select them.
3. click on the View more (three dots) and select Compress to ZIP file from the menu.
4. Your selected files will be added to a Zip file in the same folder so you can label it. You will also notice a graphical zipper on the folder, indicating a compressed file.
5. Alternatively, you can highlight the files you want to compress, right-click and select Compress to ZIP file in the context menu.

Once you have the necessary files in a Zip folder, you can share the file over the network or via email. Furthermore, the compressed folder will take up less space than the original files. It also saves time.

For example, you can put multiple photos in a Zip file without the hassle of attaching each one individually.

How to unzip all files in Windows 11

Since Windows 11 natively supports Zip files, you can double-click the “folder” to view and access its contents. However, to modify the files, you will need to extract or “unzip” them from the folder.

To unzip files in Windows 11:

1. Open File Explorer and select the Zip file.
2. click on the Extract everything button on the command bar.
3. Select the location to extract the files and click the button To extract button at the bottom.
4. Alternatively, you can right-click the Compressed folder and select Extract everything in the context menu.

How to unzip individual files from a Zip file

If you don't need all the files in a compressed archive, you can uncompress individual files from the archive.

To unzip a single file:

1. Double-click the Zip file that contains the file you need.
2. Select the file (or files) you want from the archive.
3. click on the Cut button in the command bar at the top.
4. Choose the location to place the individual file(s) you cut and click To paste.
5. Alternatively, like the options above, you can access Cut It is To paste through the context menu.

Use a third-party app to compress files in Windows 11

If you don't want to use the built-in file compression tools in Windows 11, you can use a free third-party app.

Our favorite free and open source utility is 7-Zip. However, you may prefer WinRAR or a paid program like WinZip.

The advantage of a third-party option is support for other file formats such as TGZ files, TAR format, and Linux Gzip files.

The apps also include easy-to-use encryption options and integrate well with the Windows user interface.

Regardless of your compression utility, compressing and decompressing files is very simple. However, it's also worth mentioning that you can also download 7-Zip from the Microsoft Store.

To zip and unzip files with 7-Zip:

1. Once 7-Zip is installed, launch File Explorer and select the files you want to compress.
2. Right-click on the selection and select Show more options > 7-Zip > Add to Archive in the context menu.
3. When the Add to archive screen appears, set the File format for Zip so it is easily compatible with other computers.
4. Also, choose the location to create the Zip file in the File field at the top.
5. Adjust any other settings (there are several, including encryption features) you want and click OK to complete the process.
6. Once the compressed file is in Zip format, you can open it using File Explorer (shown above) or the 7-Zip utility.
7. Right-click the file and select Open with > 7-Zip File Manager from the menu.
8. Use the 7-Zip panel to extract the folder contents to a location on your PC.

Using zip files to manage your data

Using built-in tools or third-party software, you can create a Zip file in Windows 11. The Zip format is quick and easy and is natively supported in Windows.

With their ease of use and availability, Zip files are essential for managing your data.

It's also important to note that Zip files work well on other computing platforms. For example, you can create Zip files on a Mac.

Additionally, you can create and extract files Zip on an iPhone using application Files.

Additionally, if you are using a Chromebook, you can use Zip files on Chrome OS. If you're not on Windows 11 yet, learn how to use Zip files in Windows 10.