Zip and unzip files

Zipped (compressed) files take up less storage space and can be transferred to other computers more quickly than uncompressed files. In Windows, you work with zipped files and folders in the same way that you work with uncompressed files and folders. Combine several files into a single zipped folder to more easily share a group of files.

Locate the file or folder that you want to zip.

Press and hold (or right-click) the file or folder, select (or point to) Send to, and then select Compressed (zipped) folder.

A new zipped folder with the same name is created in the same location. To rename it, press and hold (or right-click) the folder, select Rename, and then type the new name.

Locate the zipped folder that you want to unzip (extract) files or folders from.

Do one of the following:

To unzip a single file or folder, open the zipped folder, then drag the file or folder from the zipped folder to a new location.

To unzip all the contents of the zipped folder, press and hold (or right-click) the folder, select Extract All, and then follow the instructions.

To add files or folders to a zipped folder you created earlier, drag them to the zipped folder.

If you add encrypted files to a zipped folder, they’ll be unencrypted when they’re unzipped, which might result in unintentional disclosure of personal or sensitive information. For that reason, we recommend that you avoid zipping encrypted files.

Some types of files, like JPEG images, are already highly compressed. If you zip several JPEG pictures into a folder, the total size of the folder will be about the same as the original collection of pictures.

NEW! WinZip ® XP

Zip, protect, share and manage files
anywhere with the world’s #1 zip utility.

• Zip and unzip instantly
• Manage all your files in one place
• Share directly to cloud, social media and IM
• Convert to PDF, add watermarks and resize photos
• Connect and share on the go with ZipShare

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OS Win 10 / 8 / 7 / Vista / XP

WinZip XP Standard

System Requirements

• Windows 10
• Windows 8
• Windows 7
• Windows Vista
• Windows XP
• Internet Explorer 8 or later

*WinZip Express is not compatible with Windows XP.

NEW! Job Wizard Super Picker Now your backups can include files from almost anywhere and now you can simply drag and drop them from Explorer or the WinZip File pane into the Job Wizard for backup. Combine files from your computer folders, the network and cloud services in one backup. Save the resulting zip to the cloud if you wish. Automate back up and distribution by creating a job that gathers files from various cloud services, zips them and distributes the zip via email according to your schedule.
Pro and Enterprise only

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Compress/Decompress	WinZip Standard	WinZip Pro	Windows Compressed Folders
Zip and unzip files instantly with 64-bit, best-in-class software
Open and extract Zipx, RAR, 7Z, LHA, BZ2, IMG, ISO and all other major compression file formats
NEW! Open more files types as a Zip, including DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, XPS, ODT, ODS, ODP, ODG,WMZ, WSZ, YFS, XPI, XAP, CRX, EPUB, and C4Z
Open CAB, Zip and Zip 2.0 Methods
Convert other major compressed file formats to Zip format
Apply ‘Best Compression’ method to maximize efficiency automatically based on file type
Reduce JPEG image files by 20 — 25% with no loss of photo quality or data integrity
Compress using BZip2, LZMA, PPMD and Enhanced Deflate methods
Compress using Zip 2.0 compatible methods
‘Auto Open’ a zipped Microsoft Office file by simply double-clicking the Zip file icon
Employ advanced ‘Unzip and Try’ functionality to review interrelated components contained within a Zip file (such as an HTML page and its associated graphics).
Encrypt/Decrypt	WinZip Standard	WinZip Pro	Windows Compressed Folders
Apply encryption and conversion options, including PDF conversion, watermarking and photo resizing, before, during or after creating your zip
Apply separate conversion options to individual files in your zip
Take advantage of hardware support in certain Intel-based computers for even faster AES encryption
Administrative lockdown of encryption methods and password policies
Check ‘Encrypt’ to password protect your files using banking-level encryption and keep them completely secure
Secure sensitive data with strong, FIPS-197 certified AES encryption (128- and 256-bit)
Auto-wipe (‘shred’) temporarily extracted copies of encrypted files using the U.S. Department of Defense standard (DoD 5220.22-M) to prevent misuse
Establish your own password policy by defining complexity requirements
Encrypt and decrypt confidential files and email attachments
Manage	WinZip Standard	WinZip Pro	Windows Compressed Folders
Access all your files from your PC, network, Windows HomeGroup and supported cloud services via the Places list	Limited
NEW! Quickly access your frequently used local, network, and cloud folders in Frequent Folders	Requires special drivers for cloud
NEW! Create folders on your PC, network or cloud service from WinZip	Requires special drivers for cloud
NEW! Securely delete files and folders with the new Wipe feature
NEW! Restore accidentally deleted, copied, moved or renamed files
NEW! Open a file from the cloud in the correct application, or in an alternate application
NEW! Open and edit a file in the default application or an alternate one
NEW! View property info for files and folders
NEW! Map a folder or network location to a drive	Limited
NEW! Copy, move, delete and multi-file rename files	No multi-file rename
NEW! Copy a path to the clipboard
NEW! Copy a cloud link to the clipboard
NEW! View thumbnail previews of a selected file, whether it is in your zip, on your PC, network or cloud service (if the cloud service supports thumbnails)	Local or network only
NEW! Preview the contents of images and documents, rotate and resize images, save an image as a background and share previewed files by email, IM or social media
Includes WinZip Express for Explorer, Office and Photos built-in, and WinZip Express for Outlook as a free download
Maximize display space on devices with auto-hide scroll bars that disappear when not needed
Place a file in a zip without leaving a copy on your system with the Move option
Easily browse and find files in your zip with new Thumbnails
Customize WinZip more easily with redesigned configurable settings
Browse all your local, network and cloud files more easily in the Files pane
See the right tools for the task with the dynamic, slide-in Actions pane, which changes to display different features depending on your choices
Easily change the interface to Manage mode when you want to quickly access file management features, and see details like file type, size and date
Use WinZip on any touch-enabled device or computer
Use WinZip on new 2-in-1 computers. The display automatically adjusts when you switch between tablet and laptop modes
Rotate, Resize and View full-size images directly from within a Zip file
Temporarily extract Zip files using the ‘Unzip and Try’ feature and delete any files you do not need
Extract to selectable folder location or current folder location
Zip only the files you want using Include and Exclude filters
Use WinZip’s Explorer View to display image thumbnails for easy browsing
Package & Share	WinZip Standard	WinZip Pro	Windows Compressed Folders
NEW! Share to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
NEW! Scan and share images and documents directly from WinZip
NEW! Share photos directly from your camera with Snap and Share
Choose a file from your computer, cloud service or a zip, then choose to share by email, social media or IM, and WinZip does the rest with SmartShare
Easily share links by Skype and other services with automatic links that are available to paste from the Clipboard
Share an unzipped image directly from the File Viewer to social media sites
Use direct access to cloud services, including Box, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, CloudMe, SugarSync and now MediaFire to open zip files saved in the cloud, zip files before you upload or select files from the cloud to zip and share
Access and manage files in the cloud easily with streamlined cloud navigation, and new options to download, share, move, rename, unzip and delete files or folders.
Send links to your cloud files by email, instant messaging and social media with Cloud Links
ENHANCED! Share zipped files via instant messaging services, including Office 365 Groups, Twitter, Google Talk/Google+ Hangouts, Yahoo! Messenger and Jabber
Directly access the new ZipShare file sharing services from WinZip to connect to your cloud accounts and easily share compressed files by email and social media
Convert documents to PDF, including read-only PDFs, using WinZip’s built in PDF conversion tool
Convert images to more convenient sharing sizes automatically when adding them to a Zip file so your high-resolution photos send faster and fit standard computer screens*
Add custom watermarks to images and PDFs to deter unauthorized copying, add traceability and protect intellectual property. Adjust the transparency and add date/time stamping if desired.
Zip and email files using the most popular email and webmail systems (WinZip comes configured to work with Microsoft Outlook, Yahoo! Mail, Gmail, and Hotmail) or configure WinZip to support additional email services beyond the preset selections
Create self-extracting archives (.exe files) to send to people that may not own WinZip using the built-in ‘Self-Extractor Personal Edition’
Backup & Automate	WinZip Standard	WinZip Pro	Windows Compressed Folders
NEW! Use the Job Wizard Super Picker to combine files from your computer, network and cloud services in a single backup. Save the resulting Zip to the cloud.
Skip steps when defaults and settings do not require changes with automatic backup creation and editing
Backup your documents, email, desktop, favorites, pictures, libraries, etc. with just a click, using one of the predefined backups on the ‘Backup’ tab
Create custom backups for selected files or folders or define custom WinZip jobs to automate routine zipping tasks
Backup photos directly from your digital camera
Burn backups directly to CD, DVD or Blu-ray Disc (automatically split them over multiple discs if necessary)
Email backups automatically from virtually any of your email addresses or upload backups to an off-site server using WinZip’s internal FTP client
Backup to any connected cloud account, desktop folder or between cloud accounts
Send notifications by social media and instant messaging when automated jobs have completed using the updated Job Wizard
Use the ‘WinZip Command Line Support Add-On’ for scripting (free add-on)
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*Requires Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7 or Vista
**Requires Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 8 or Windows 7

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18 Best File Compression Software | Zip | Unzip Program

Zip is an archive format that offers data compression without data loss. A zip file may contain compressed files, folders, images, videos, and other types of compressed data. Zip Programs can help you save server storage space and reduce the time to download it to your PC. This type of software supports varieties of archiving file formats like zip, rar, tar, 7-zip, and more.

Following is a handpicked list of Top Zip File Compression Software, with their popular features and website links. The list contains both open source (free) and commercial (paid) software.

1) WinZip

WinZip is a zip tool program that can be used to compress and decompress files with no hassle. It enables you to zip large files to send as an attachment to the email.

Feature:

• It can unzip all major file formats, including zip, gzip tar, rar, cab, etc.
• This tool can protect files with high encryption.
• Winzip enables you to access and manage files on your system, cloud, and network.
• Connect to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and more.
• It provides flexibility to zip or unzips files and folders.
• You can password protect zip files

2) WinRAR

WinRAR is a zip software that allows you to create ZIP and RAR archives. This software allows you to add text comments to archives. The tool is available in more than 50 languages. It automatically recognizes and selects the ideal compression method.

Feature:

• It enables you to compress files quickly and easily.
• You can split the archive file into a separate volume.
• This tool uses 256-bit password encryption for security.
• It uses a compression algorithm that helps you to compress multimedia files and executable files.
• WinRAR helps you to save your save disk space and transmission costs.
• The software has many integrated functions to manage your compress archive.

3) Ashampoo Zip Free

Ashampoo ZIP Free is easy to use ZIP compression tool. This software supports creating and extracting with 7-ZIP, LHA, TAR, CAB, and many other formats. It has an integrated preview facility to effortlessly view files.

Feature:

• It provides a user-friendly graphical interface.
• Offers integration with Windows Explorer.
• It allows you to create the unlimited size of the archive.
• You can repair broken zip files.
• The tool helps you to create SFX (Special Effects) archive.
• You can integrate with the Windows operating system and windows server.
• Support for RAR format.

4) 7-zip

7-zip is a popular open-source file compression tool. This software uses strong AES-256 encryption technique for security. It has a self-extracting facility for 7z file format. The app can be used for business and commercial sectors. Supported formats by 7-zip are 7z, GZIP, XZ, and BZIP2.

Feature:

• Integration with Windows shell.
• It has a file manager to effectively manage your files.
• This tool can be used from the command line.
• Offers plugin for a FAR manager (A software that manages archive and files)
• It can be Localize for more than 87 languages.
• 7-zip uses LZMA (Lempel Ziv Markov Chain Algorithm) and LZMA2 for the compression.

5) Bandizip

Bandizip is a free archiver for MS windows. It supports archive formats like ZIP, RAR, 7Z, and RAR5. This tool allows users to extract multiple files. The software helps you to easily open the extracted folder.

Feature:

• This application supports Windows operating system.
• It is free software.
• Extract files in more than 30 formats.
• You can compress archive with multi-volume and password.
• It enables you to compress fast with multi-core.
• Bandizip supports compression of a file having more than 4 GB.
• This tool offers security through an AES256 encryption algorithm.

6) jZip

jZip is easy to use and free software for enterprise and home users. This tool enables you to unzip zip archives and create zip compatible folders and files. It supports a wide range of popular archive formats, including RAR, GZip, TAR, 7z, and more.

Feature:

• Create compatible zip files.
• It enables you to unzip archives.
• This tool has improved compression ratio.
• Fast speed compression engine.
• You can open and extract data from ISO (International Organization for standardization) and RAR files.

7) NX Power Lite Desktop

NX Power Lite Desktop is a simple app that enables users to compress their data easily and quickly. This program does not require any advanced computer skills in order to use it. Software is used for people who like to attach large email files.

Feature:

• Compress any file directly from Windows Explorer using the right mouse click menu option.
• Files can be collected as a single Zip file.
• It can compress up to 10,000 folders and files at one time.
• NX Power Lite Desktop automatically compresses email attachments.

8) PowerArchiver

PowerArchiver is easy to use file archiver tool design for Microsoft Windows. This tool supports creating 7z, Tar, and zip, and various disk image formats. You can also use this software for encrypting and decrypt any file or folder.

Feature:

• It uses secure FTP client with using FIPS 140-2 validation.
• This tool automatically compress and encrypts files in MS Office XP- 2016.
• It is simple to install and manage with MSI (Microsoft Installer) installations and password policies.
• PowerArchiver provides a command-line version.
• You can join two archive files.
• It has a built-in preview window that enables you to see various text, images, multimedia without extracting them.
• You can use it on Windows operating system.

9) PeaZip

PeaZip is a file compression software that supports more than 150 different file formats. This tool has many security features like an encrypted password manager and two-factor authentication.

Feature:

• It is a user-friendly tool that does not contain any harmful software.
• This app can search for duplicate files.
• The software can split the archive into multiple files.
• You can schedule archiving to control which session you need to archive.
• It enables you to compress files having limited resources.

10) ZipGenius

ZipGenius is a file archiver specially design for Microsoft Windows. This easy to use application support more than 20 compressed file types. You can use such software to easily create, edit, and share zip folders and files.

Feature:

• You can browse DVD/CD ISO images with ease.
• Perform batch tasks using the command line module.
• It uses CZIP encryption system to protect your data.
• Zipgenius has the latest encryption algorithm to secure your files.
• Compatible with Windows operating system.

11) Hamster Zip Archiver

Hamster Zip Archiver is a zip software that has a simple drag and drop interface to compress the data. This tool offers an integration facility with Dropbox, Google Drive, and other cloud applications.

Feature:

• You can effortlessly share the archive with your friends.
• Compress and open all file types.
• Supports more than 40 languages.
• It can be used free for home and office.

12) B1 Free Archiver

B1 Free Archiver is a freeware file archiver manager software. This tool provides full support for native B1 and zip format. It can decompress more than 20 famous archive formats.

Feature:

• It can be used for operating systems like Windows, Linux, Android, and Mac.
• This software support formats like b1, zip, jar, xpi, 7z, and more.
• It uses 256-bit AES standards for protecting privacy.
• The software helps you to compress files quickly.
• You can edit and share the source available in the software.

13) IZArc

IZArc is a free file archiver design for MS Windows. This tool can open the most basic used archive formats like zip, rar, gzip, gz, and tar. The software uses AES 256 for security. You can also use it to compress or decompress important files effortlessly.

Feature:

• It supports drag and drop interface.
• You can delete files from any archive.
• This tool enables you to convert CD Images.
• You can repair broken archive effortlessly.
• Integrated with Windows Explorer context menu.
• You can email archive.
• Allows you to scan any archive for the virus.
• It helps you to add or view comments in the archive file.

14) Zip Extractor

ZIP Extractor is a free program for opening files like RAR, 7z, ZIP, and files on your PC and Google Drive. This tool allows you to preview files. It also helps you to open password protected files.

Feature:

• This software allows you to extract unzip files available in Google drive.
• You can preview and download files existed inside the ZIP folder without extracting the whole file.
• It helps you to share extracted files with others.
• This tool supports password-protected files.
• Open zip files on your PC or Google Drive.

15) RAR File Extractor

RAR File Extractor is a software for extracting RAR files. This is a simple and effective program. Users can use it to quickly extract and decompress all files and folders.

Feature:

• You can select *.rar file, and it will extract it to the output folder.
• Provide the option to overwrite extracted files.
• It quickly shows extracted files when completed.
• Supports multi-volume (Process of breaking large file size into a small file) RAR archive.

16) CAM UnZip

CAM UnZip is a ZIP file utility software that allows users to open, create as well as modify zip files available in the folder. You can use this tool to open files created by 7-Zip and Winzip.

Feature:

• You can unzip any ZIP files or folders quickly and easily.
• This program helps you to extract all selected files.
• You can view your files in the archive before extracting.
• It helps you to add or removes files.
• CAM UnZip automatically runs the setup after unzipping.
• It can be accessed from the command line interface.

17) The Unarchiver

The Unarchiver is a free data decompression tool. This tool can be used on the Mac operating system. You can use it to extract the most common archive formats, including RAR, Zip, and Tar.

Feature:

• It helps you to install the software in just a few mouse clicks.
• You can quickly set this program as a default archive file.
• All the features of The Unarchiver tool are available for free.
• It can read non-Latin characters.

❓ What is Zip?

Zip is an archive format that offers data compression without data loss. A zip file contains compressed files, folders, images, video and other types of compressed data

⚡ What is the default zip program of Windows 10?

The default zip program of Windows 10 is the «Compressed zipped folder».