Ways to create a ZIP archive in Windows

While working on a computer, almost all users in one way or another come across archives of various types, for example, in e-mail attachments or when downloading files from the Internet. Among such extensions, the most common in the world is the ZIP format.

In various situations, the user may need to create a ZIP archive on a computer in the Windows operating system. To perform this operation, you can use the built-in OS tool or third-party software.

Using Archives

The archive is created using a specialized program – an archiver. You can archive various files and folders. The archiver compresses files into an archive, or a compressed ZIP folder (in our case) with the “*.zip” extension.

Archiving files performs several tasks:

• Compressing files to reduce disk space.
• Convenience and increased speed when transferring files over the Internet.
• To store multiple files under the same name.
• Keep copies of important files and documents.
• To protect files from strangers.

Compressed files after archiving take up less space. Compression efficiency depends on the file type. For example, ordinary text files are compressed very heavily, but for music files and pictures, everything depends on the file format. Some files compress well, while others barely compress.

When sending files over the Web, the size of the files is important, as well as how they are transferred. It is much easier to send one archive than several different files because it will save a lot of time.

Archival copies allow you to save important data from loss. In case of loss of the original information, you can restore it from an archive copy.

If you create a ZIP archive with a password, then this data will become inaccessible to unauthorized persons. Access to the contents can be obtained only after entering the password set for this archive. In this way, you will create a kind of safe for important files.

The archiving process always involves unzipping. The files are archived so that you can retrieve them if necessary.

You can use several methods to create an archive:

• Create a ZIP archive with the built-in Windows tool.
• Use third party programs.
• Create ZIP archive online.

About the first two ways to create a file – a ZIP archive, we will describe in this guide. On the site vellisa.ru you can read an article on how to create a ZIP archive online.

How to create a compressed ZIP folder using Windows

We will first look at how to create a ZIP archive on Windows. The operating system has a built-in tool for working with ZIP files, which is suitable for most typical tasks.

You can use the archive tool from the Explorer context menu:

1. Select the required files and folders.
2. In the context menu of Windows 11, click on the “Compress ZIP archive” item.

 

In operating systems Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, you first need to select the menu item “Create” or “Send”, and then “Compressed ZIP folder”.

 

3. A ZIP folder will appear in the location where the archived files are stored, and you can give it a suitable name. Otherwise, the system will give a name to this archive on its own.

 

After opening this folder in Explorer, the contents of the ZIP folder (archive) are shown in the same way as the contents of any other folder on the PC. With files or folders in the archive, you can perform any action: view, copy, move, delete, and so on.

 

In addition, you can unzip files from the archive to any folder on your computer. Windows uses the following algorithm of actions:

1. Select a ZIP folder.
2. Next, use the corresponding button on the Explorer toolbar or the context menu of the right mouse button.
3. In the context menu that opens, select the “Extract all …” item.

 

4. In the “Unpack compressed ZIP folders” window, select the target folder and extract the files.

 

The built-in ZIP archiver lacks some useful features:

• You cannot split a large archive into several parts for easier movement or download.
• There are no settings for the degree of file compression.
• You cannot put a password on the archive to encrypt important files.

If you need these features, please use third-party applications that can create a ZIP archive on your computer. There are a large number of such programs.

Programs – archivers usually add quite a lot of items to the context menu of the right mouse button, unnecessary of which can be disabled in the application settings. The launch of an archiving or unarchiving operation is performed directly from the window of such a program or from the context menu of Explorer.

How to create a ZIP archive in WinRAR

WinRAR is a popular archiver for working with RAR archives. In addition to its own format, this program can create a ZIP archive. This is a powerful application for working with archives of different formats.

Go through the steps:

1. Select the required files.
2. In the context menu, select “Add to archive …”.
3. In the “Name and parameters of the archive” window, specify the name of the archive, the archive format is ZIP.

In this window, you can select a location for storing the archive (the current directory is used by default), change the compression method, split files into volumes of a certain size, and set a password.

4. Click on the “OK” button to start the archiving process.

 

After compression is complete, the ZIP archive file will appear in the selected location.

How to create a ZIP file in 7-Zip

7-Zip is a free archiver with support for a large number of formats. This application supports the creation of compressed ZIP folders. The 7-Zip archiver often uses WinRAR instead of the paid one.

Do the following:

1. Open the 7-Zip window.
2. Open the desired folder, and then select the files.
3. On the toolbar, click the “Add” button.

 

4. In the “Add to archive” window, in the “Archive format” field, specify – “zip”.

Choose a storage location, compression level, if necessary, split the archive into volumes, set a password (option – “Encryption”).

5. Click on the “OK” button.

 

The archive will be created in the specified directory according to the specified parameters.

How to create a ZIP folder in Total Commander

Total Commander is a popular file manager for the Windows operating system. With this application, you can create archives in several formats, including ZIP format.

Do the following:

1. Open the folder with the files on the right panel in the Total Commander program. On the left panel, open the directory where you need to save the created archive.
2. Select the desired files (they will turn red).
3. Click on the “Pack Files” button located on the toolbar.

 

4. In the “File Packing” window, the format we need is selected by default – ZIP. If necessary, you can create a multi-volume archive, enable encryption, or go to settings to set the compression level.
5. Click on the “OK” button.

 

After the operation is completed, a compressed folder will appear in the selected directory.

Article Conclusions

With archiving, the user can compress files on his computer to save space or to send the archive to a destination via the Internet. Among the numerous extensions of archive formats, the ZIP format is the most common.

This format is supported in the Windows operating system, as well as in specialized programs for creating archives. Using a system tool or a third-party application, you can create a compressed ZIP folder on a computer in the Windows operating system.