How to create a zip file in windows explorer

Forgot to add some files while creating a ZIP archive? No worries, you can add files to an existing archive without any hassle. Simply select the files you want to include in your archive, click an option, and your ZIP archive is ready. Even when you don't need to compress files, ZIP archives are still handy. We'll show you how to make them on macOS. Mahesh is a tech writer at MakeUseOf. He's been writing tech how-to guides for about 8 years now and has covered many topics.

He loves to teach people how they can get the most out of their devices. Share Share Tweet Email. You can also select multiple files or folders in Explorer, and then follow the same steps above to compress them simultaneously. The ZIP file icon looks like a standard Windows folder with a zipper on it. Windows then allows you to name the ZIP file whatever you want.

Type a name, and then press Enter. You can also copy-and-paste or drag-and-drop files into this window to add them to the ZIP file. To remove individual files from the ZIP file, delete them from here. Any changes you make inside the folder will be applied to the ZIP file. You can copy the ZIP file to wherever you want.

Using Explorer, locate the compressed folder Zip file from which you want to extract a file. Double-click it, and it opens like a regular folder. Locate the file you want to extract, and then drag it out of the compressed folder window to another location, such as another folder or your Desktop. The extracted file is copied to the new location, and it will also remain in the Zip file. There are other ways to zip and unzip files in Windows using third-party tools, such as 7-Zip , which is one of our favorites.

You can also password-protect and encrypt your Zip files while compressing them for security. Use Google Fonts in Word. Use FaceTime on Android Signal vs. Customize the Taskbar in Windows What Is svchost. Best Smartwatches. Best Gaming Laptops. Best Smart Displays. Best Home Security Systems. Best External Solid State Drives.

Select all files you want to add to the zip. To select multiple files at once, hold the Ctrl key as you click each file. Additional options will expand. This creates a new folder with a default file name. The selected files are now compressed into the new zip file. To add additional files to the zip, just drag them to the file in the File Explorer. Can you create a zipped file that includes a zipped file? I have 5 documents to send, one of which is a zipped file. Joshua Chuah. You cannot incorporate a zip file within another zip file.

If you need the files within the second zip file to stay inside a single folder, you can just extract the files and put them in their own folder, as zip files retain any folders that you might have inside it.

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How to. About This Article. Written by:. Nicole Levine, MFA. Co-authors: 4.