Zip files are useful for storing and transporting multiple files in a single, compressed format. Most often, zip files are used compress documents and multimedia files.

Creating a zip file for Windows 

  1. Navigate to the location of the file or files that you want to zip up.
  2. Click on the file to highlight it. (For multiple files, hold the CTRL button and select them all.)
  3. Right-click on the highlighted selection and choose Send To > Compressed (zipped) Folder.
  4. The zip file will appear in the same folder as the original file and will have the same name as the original file.


Extracting a zip file


Double-clicking on a zip file allows you to browse the contents of the file. To extract the file, right-click on the zip file and select Extract All... This will automatically launch a wizard which will walk you through the extraction process -- all you have to do is select the destination folder where the files should be extracted.

 



Creating a zip file for Mac

  1. Navigate the file or files you want to zip up.
  2. Click on the file to highlight it. (For multiple files hold Shift and select the files.)
  3. Control click or right-click on the highlighted file(s) and select Compress "filename".
  4. The zip file will appear in the same folder as the original file.


Extracting a zip file


Double-clicking on a zip file automatically extracts the contents of the file to the same folder where the original zip file is located.