Zip files are a useful way to store multiple files together in an easily accessible format. They are used frequently for sending attachments over the internet, due to the small file sizes they create compared to the equivalent uncompressed files. In this article, we will look at how to create a zip file on a Windows PC, Mac and Android device.
Creating a Zip file on Windows:
1. Navigate to the folder containing the files you wish to compress.
2. Select the files you would like to put in the zip file. You can press and hold the Ctrl key and click on individual files, or click and drag to select multiple files.
3. Right-click on the highlighted files and choose “Send to” from the menu, and then select “Compressed (zipped) folder”.
4. A zip file with the name of your selected folder will be created in the same folder.
Creating a Zip file on Mac:
1. Navigate to the folder containing the files you wish to compress.
2. Select the files you would like to add to the zip file by pressing and holding the Command key and clicking on individual files, or click and drag to select multiple files.
3. Right-click on the highlighted files and choose “Compress” from the menu.
4. A zip file with the name of your selected folder will be created in the same folder.
Creating a Zip file on Android:
1. Open a File Manager app on your Android device. This can be a built-in app depending on your device.
2. Navigate to the folder containing the files you wish to compress.
3. Select the files you would like to put in the zip file. You can tap individual files one at a time, or you can tap and hold one file until all of the files you want to include in the zip file are highlighted.
4. Tap the three-dot menu button in the top right corner.
5. In the menu that appears, tap “Compress”.
6. A zip file with the name of your selected folder will be created in the same folder.
When it comes to extracting files from a zip file, the process is similar across different platforms. You can use the same File Manager app on Android, the Unarchiver app for Mac and Windows File Explorer for Windows. You simply need to select the zip file and choose “Extract” or “Unzip” from the menu. Then, you can select a location to save the extracted files.
In conclusion, creating a zip file is simple and straightforward on all major platforms, whether you’re using a Windows PC, Mac, or Android device. The process typically takes just a few clicks and the file size of a zip file is usually much smaller than an equivalent set of uncompressed files, which can be especially useful when sending files over the internet.