But for many people with limited zipping needs, the Windows option is fine. There are some other zipping applications for Windows, such as PeaZip and 7Zip, that some people might prefer to use when zipping files. If you are having problems with zipped files on your computer, then check out this article on setting the default zip program on your Windows 7 computer. With this knowledge in hand you can follow the steps outlined above to create a zip file in Windows 7. In some cases this size reduction can be substantial, so if you are near the limits of what your email provider will allow you to send, zipping files can help to keep you under the limit. Zipping a file or group of files also compresses them which, in many situations, actually reduces the size of the files. This doesn’t do anything to the actual files contained within. If you send a zip file, then all that your contacts will receive is an attachment with just the single zipped file, which they can then unzip on their own. Email providers can’t handle folders, and sending a large number of files individually can be a bit of a mess for the person receiving the message. You can now feel free to attach this file to an email, or move it around as you would any other type of file on your computer.Īs mentioned above, I have found that the most helpful aspect of zipping files or folders in Windows 7 is for email purposes. Step 2: Right-click the file to bring up the shortcut menu. Step 1: Locate the file or folder that you want to zip. Note that these steps are going to create a new file in the same folder, with a filename that you can specify.

The steps in this article were performed in Windows 7, but will also work in other versions of Windows such as Windows 8 or Windows 10.

How to Zip a File or Folder in Windows 7 (Guide with Pictures) Our guide continues below with additional information and pictures for these steps. Type a name for the zip file, then press Enter.Select the Compressed (zipped) folder option.This will create a zip file in the same location as the file or folder that you are choosing to zip. Our guide below is going to show you how to zip a file or a folder in Windows 7, using only the default zipping utility that is a part of the operating system. Your recipient will simply receive the single, zipped file, which they can then unzip on their own computer to see all of the files. This is where the ability to create a zip folder in Windows 7 comes in handy.īy zipping a file or folder you are not only reducing the size of the file, you are also making it much simpler to send a large number of files in an email. They allow you to minimize clutter in larger folders by creating a sort of filing system.īut creating a folder doesn’t do anything to minimize the size of the files contained within them, and you can’t send an entire folder through an email. Folders are a very helpful organizational tool in Windows 7.

Make a zip folder