How to Use Zip Files on Android

Want to compress files on an Android device into a ZIP file (or open an existing ZIP file? Vjea How to use Zip files on Android.

Zip files are a popular compression and archiving format used on a PC or Mac. Did you know you can use zip files on Android?

Although the mobile operating system wasn't friendly to compressing files from the beginning, using compressed files on Android is now much easier (although still not perfect).

For example, Android devices have a basic file manager, but you'll need an app to create compressed files.

When using an external USB drive to transfer files, you will likely encounter zip files that you will need to manage on your device. In this guide, we'll show you how to do this.

How to open Zip files on Android

Google has created a solid file management app called Google Files which allows you to transfer files without using a PC. We will explain how to use it to open zip files on Android below.

Observation: Most modern Android phones have a USB-C connection, and you can access your zip (and other) files via a USB-C drive. You can also connect an old USB 2.0 flash drive with a compatible USB-C to USB 2.0 adapter.

To open Zip files on Android:

1. Install Files by Google from the Play Store and launch it.
2. Connect your USB drive if necessary and launch the Files by Google app.
3. If prompted, give the Files app permission to the connected drive and its contents.
4. Browse to the location of the zip file you want to open.
5. Tap the file to see an overview of what it contains.
6. To unzip the contents in the zip folder, tap the To extract button in the menu.
7. A progress bar will be displayed while the contents of the zip file are extracted.
8. After extracting the files, you can select the Delete ZIP file option and tap Done button to remove the zip file.

How to Create a Zip File on Android

The Android operating system does not natively support creating zip files, so again, you have to turn to a third-party solution. There are good apps that will do the job, like ZArchiver and RAR. You may prefer to use a commercial option like WinZip if you create a lot of zip files on Android.

In this example, we are using ZArchiver, but the process is similar to other applications.

To create a zip file on Android:

1. Launch the archive application and select the files you want to compress.
2. Tap zip icon to trigger file creation.
3. Select zip under File format section, name the file, set other available options, and tap OK.
4. The zip file will appear in the folder you opened.

Once you create the zip file on your phone, you can use the file manager to move it somewhere else. You can also share it if necessary.

The RAR app for Android includes an in-app purchase of one dollar per year. WinZip has a free version, but it's packed with ads and is more expensive with an in-app purchase of up to ten dollars.

ZArchiver supports zip, 7z (7-Zip), and TAR file compression and is free, but offers a donation version that includes extra features.

How to Move Zip Files from USB Drive to Android

The Files by Google app is intuitive and allows for easy file management on your Android phone. One useful feature is the ability to move a zip file from an external drive to the phone's internal storage.

To move zip files from USB to phone:

1. Connect your USB drive to your phone and find the zip file you want to move.
2. click on the three points button next to the file.
3. Tap Move to option in the menu that appears.
4. Select the zip file to move and select Internal storage in the Move to menu.
5. Select an existing folder or create a new one by tapping Add new folder at the top of the menu.
6. Enter a name for the new folder and tap Move to folder option.
7. After completing the steps, your zip file will appear in the folder you created.

If you need to manage compressed files, folders, and other data on your Android phone, Google's Files app makes the process easy.

It is beneficial when moving files between external storage and Android device.

Managing zip files and folders across platforms

Using zip files on Android is not a perfect experience, but using the above options will help you deal with it well.

Using the Files by Google app provides a straightforward way to open and move zip files. A zip file creation app like ZArchiver will also give you good control over creating compressed files.

Of course, you can use zip files on other computing platforms. For example, Windows includes native support for zip files, and you can still use zip files in Windows 11.

Or, if you're not on the new operating system yet, check out how to compress files and folders in Windows 10.

Additionally, you can easily create zip files on macOS and create and extract zip files on iPhone using the Files app included with iOS.

And if you use a Chromebook, check out our guide on managing zip files on Chrome OS.