Zipping or compressing files is essential to free up storage space on our computers. It also enables us to transfer or upload large files quickly. In Windows 10, creating zip files is a straightforward process, and this handy guide takes you through the step-by-step process, from selecting files to compressing them into a zipped folder.
Step One: Select the files you want to compress
Before creating a zip folder, you have to identify and select the files you want to compress into the folder. To select the files, click on File Explorer on your taskbar or press the Windows key and E to open the File Explorer. Using the File Explorer, navigate to the folder where the files you want to compress are saved.
Select the files you want to compress by clicking on each file’s name while pressing the control key on your keyboard. Alternatively, you can select a group of files by clicking on the first file name, pressing the shift key, and clicking on the last file name in the group.
Step Two: Create a new folder
After selecting the files you want to compress, your next step is to create a new folder. Creating a folder helps to organize your files and simplifies the zipping process. To create a new folder, right-click create a new folder, and give it a name that identifies the files you’ve selected. For instance, if you have selected pictures to compress, name the folder as “Pictures.”
Step Three: Compress the selected files
Now that you have created a new folder and added files to it, you need to compress the files into a zip file. Start by right-clicking on the folder and selecting Send to > Compressed (zipped) Folder. The zipped folder should now appear in the same location as the original folder. If you are compressing big files, the compression process may take a few minutes.
Step Four: Confirm your zipped folder creation
To ensure that you have successfully created a zipped folder, double-click on the zipped folder to open it. If it opens, you have created a compressed file successfully.
Step Five: Add/Remove files from the compressed folder
Once you have created the compressed folder, you can still add or remove files from the zipped file, as long as the items you are changing are saved within the zip file. To remove a file or files from the compressed file, open the file with the Windows compression tool, then click on the file, press the delete key and click ‘Yes’ to confirm the action. To add files to the zipped folder, drag and drop the selected files to the compressed folder.
Moreover, you can also add or remove files from the compressed folder by extracting the files. For example, if you want to remove a specific file from the zipped folder, extract the entire folder with all its contents to your computer then copy only the specific files you want back to the compressed folder.
Step Six: Rename the zipped folder
If you need to change the name of the compressed folder, right-click on the zipped folder, select Rename, and type the new name. It would be best to keep the name short and descriptive to help you identify the contents of the folder.
Step Seven: Share the zipped folder
Now that you have created your zipped folder, it is good to share it with others. To share your zipped folder, you can save it to your desktop and then attach it to an email. Alternatively, you can directly attach the zip file to an email from within the File Explorer. Right-click the zip file and select Send to > Mail recipient, and a new email will open with the zipped file already attached.
Conclusion
Creating zipped files in Windows 10 is a simple process that anyone can easily undertake. One significant advantage of zipping your files is that it reduces the file size, which is an advantage when sharing multiple files. This step-by-step guide will assist you in creating and sharing compressed folders quickly and easily.