Zipping files and folders is a very useful tool to have in your belt as it allows you to compress and shrink files and folders making them far easier to upload to the cloud, or move onto a hard drive.
Zipping files makes them much smaller and easier to manage, but its contents can’t be accessed while the file is still zipped up. We’re going to show you how to create a zipped file, and how to unpack one too.
Windows 10 has this feature built-in you will be thankful to hear, so you won’t need to download third party software. Hooray!
Read on to find out how you can quickly zip up your files in Windows 10.
How to zip files and folders
You can zip your files and folders directly from Windows Explorer. Open up the File Explorer and navigate your way to the file(s) or folders you’d like to zip up.
- Select a single file or folder, or select several by holding ‘Ctrl’ down and clicking on several files or folders.
- Right-click, head down to ‘Send To’ and hover your mouse over it.
- Select ‘Compressed (zipped) folder’
- A zipped folder will appear within the directory that you’re currently in containing the files you have selected
How to unzip a file in Windows 10
Unzipping a folder in Windows 10 is thankfully nice and simple too, so follow the steps below to find out how.
- Right-click on the folder and select ‘Extract all’
- Windows will then ask you where you would like to extract the contents of your zipped file to.
- Once you have selected this, hit ‘Extract’ and Windows will pull your folders out of the zipped file ready for use.
It’s just as simple as that.
If you’re looking for other helpful tutorials for Windows make sure you take a look at our How To section.