Zipping files compresses them into a single smaller file, which makes them easier to email or upload. Unzipping extracts them back to their original form. Windows 11 can do both without any extra software.
How to zip files
Select the files or folders you want to zip. You can select multiple items by holding Ctrl and clicking each one. Right click on the selection and click Compress to ZIP file. Windows will create a new zip file in the same location. You can rename it to something meaningful.
How to unzip files
Find the zip file you want to extract. Right click on it and click Extract All. Choose where you want the files to be extracted to, or leave the default location. Click Extract. The unzipped files will open in a new folder.
You can also double click on a zip file to view its contents without extracting everything. From there you can drag individual files out if you only need specific ones.
When zipping is useful
Zipping is especially helpful when you need to email multiple files at once. Instead of attaching ten separate documents, you can zip them into one file. It also reduces the total file size, which helps if you are hitting email attachment limits.
Zipping is also useful when sharing folders. You cannot attach a folder directly to an email, but you can zip it first and send the zip file.
Common file types inside zip files
Most zip files contain normal documents like PDFs, Word files, spreadsheets and images. Windows 11 can also open .tar and .gz files natively, which are compression formats commonly used on Mac and Linux systems. If you receive a .rar or .7z file, you will need a third party tool like 7-Zip to open it.
A note on security
If you receive a zipped file that you were not expecting, do not extract it. Malware is often distributed inside zip files, especially .zip files containing .exe or .js files. If the file came from an unfamiliar sender or the email feels suspicious, forward it to your IT provider and let them verify it is safe before opening. Our guide on how to check if a downloaded file is safe covers what to look for.
When to get help
If you cannot open a zip file, if extraction fails with an error, or if you receive password-protected zip files that you were not expecting, contact your IT provider. Recloud helps businesses stay protected from exactly these kinds of threats.