Delete Zipped File after File Extension. To delete the compressed version, right-click the zipped folder Choose Delete. Zip (Compress) Multiple Files 'Zipped' or 'Compressed' files are often sent as email attachments. The compression process helps to reduce file size. View the help page on how to Zip (Compress) Multiple Files if you would. There has been no major update to the file compression program in recent years. This is partly because such updates have been unnecessary. It can still work on all popular files and can compress or decompress with utmost ease. The space you can save with files compressed using bzip2 is sufficient when you factor in heavy documents or materials. Originally focused on Zip compression for Lotus Notes and Microsoft Outlook attached files with our ZipMail Compression Suite product line, we now provide an extended range of innovative solutions to fight the volume issues in Lotus Notes / Domino / Sametime / Quickr, Microsoft Outlook / Exchange, Microsoft Outlook Express and any Web-Mails (including Domino Web Access / Lotus iNotes Web.
- How To Save A File As A Compressed Zip File
- How To Open A Zip File
- How To Send A Compressed Zip File
- How To Save A Compressed Zip File Download
Would you like to prevent unauthorized people from accessing sensitive data that you store on data servers and shared computers, or send via email? Then it's best to use password-protected archive files, like those in ZIP format.
You can password protect ZIP files on both Windows 10 and macOS. However, the range of functions provided by your system's password-protection tools are limited. For this reason, we recommend using external software.
Password Protect ZIP Files with Windows System Tools
Microsoft Windows 10 provides a feature for password protecting files and folders which is integrated in the operating system. Windows password protection can also protect ZIP files from unauthorized access, without having to use third-party software. To activate password protection for your files, follow these steps:
Windows password protection is only available in the editions Microsoft Windows 10 Pro, Education, and Enterprise, not in Windows 10 Home.
Step 1: Using the right mouse button, click on the ZIP file that you would like to password protect.
Step 2: In the shortcut menu, select the 'Properties' option to open the file properties.
Step 3: In the 'General' tab, click on 'Advanced' in order to open the 'Advanced Attribute' dialog window.
Step 4: In the 'Advanced Attributes' dialog window, select the check box next to 'Encrypt contents to secure data'.
Step 5: Close the 'Advanced Attributes' dialog window by clicking on 'OK' and save the change in file properties by clicking on 'OK' or 'Apply'.
The file icon now displays a padlock. This indicates that the corresponding file is password protected. But what does this actually mean?
After you have activated password protection, you'll note that you can still open the file without a password prompt. File content can also be displayed and processed without changes. Nevertheless, the file is password protected – with a key generated by Windows that is stored in your user account.
You have access to the file as long as you are logged into your user account. By contrast, other users will be denied access. This can be very practical in many situations. However, only in a few application cases does it serve as a password-protected ZIP file. For instance, this feature is not intended for sending password-protected ZIP files. For this, we recommend using a compression program with an encryption feature.
Encrypting File Folders with macOS Standard Tools
Though it's true the Apple operating system macOS does not offer any native features for password protecting ZIP files, you can however protect the directories – in which ZIP files are located – as image files. To do so, follow these steps:
Step 1: Create a new folder in Finder – macOS' standard file manager.
Step 2: Relocate all ZIP files that you'd like to protect into the folder you just created.
Step 3: Open the macOS hard drive service program. You can do this via Spotlight search.
Step 4: Click on 'File' in the menu bar above and choose 'Image from Folder' under 'New Image'.
Step 5: Choose the folder you created at the beginning that has the files you wish to protect and click on 'Open'.
Step 6: Give the image a name and choose a save location.
Step 7: Choose the type of encryption:
How To Save A File As A Compressed Zip File
- 128-Bit-AES encryption (recommended)
- 256-Bit-AES encryption (more secure, but slower)
Step 8: Enter a password of your choosing and confirm entry by clicking on 'Choose'.
Step 9: Make sure that the image format is set to 'Compressed' and complete the process by clicking on 'Save'.
The encrypted image is created in .dmg format in the save location you specified.
Select the image by double-clicking on it and entering your password to access the password-protected file.
An open .dmg file is displayed as an integrated drive in Finder.
Eject the image via Finder if you are no longer using the protected files. Otherwise, they will remain accessible without a password prompt.
To make sure that your data is protected from unauthorized access, you should delete the unencrypted original data.
Password Protecting ZIP Files with Third-Party Software
Since the options for each operating system are limited, we recommend using a third-party program. For example, we have chosen 7-Zip, a free packer application with a high compression rate and reliable encryption. It creates archive files in the 7z, TAR, WIM, and ZIP formats. The program's encryption feature is available for 7z and ZIP files.
Follow these steps to create a password-protected archive file for any file folder of your choosing:
How to copy and paste screen on windows. Step 1: Download the open-source 7-Zip compression program from the provider's website and install the software on your system.
7-Zip is automatically integrated into the Windows Explorer shortcut menu.
Step 2: Using the right mouse button, click on the file folder that you would like to encrypt.
Step 3: Choose '7-Zip' in the shortcut menu and click on 'Add to archives…' in the pop-up menu.
Step 4: In the packer program's configuration mask, you'll find the required settings for the save location, archive format, compression strength, compression method, and encryption.
Enter a password, then enter it again.
In archive format, 7z is available with AES-256-bit encryption. This can also be used for password protecting ZIP files. What's more, the latter can be encrypted with the ZipCrypto algorithm.
Opening an archive file that has been password protected with 7-Zip requires you to enter a password.
Windows users often utilize the WinZip packer program for password protecting ZIP files. The programs WinRAR, Peazip, Bandizip, and Ashampoo Zip Free also offer encryption features. We provide you with a detailed comparison of the range of features in our article on the most popular WinZip alternatives.
Related articlesThe ZIP file format
ZIP files are one of the most popular ways to save disk space and send large files and folders to other computers. The process for creating a ZIP file or folder is slightly different depending on what device you're using, so here we'll explain the best ways to do it for Mac and Windows users, before discussing alternative methods that are even more efficient and reliable.
A ZIP file is one or more files that have been compressed together in one location. When a file or folder is zipped, its contents are compressed, with redundant data removed, so they use and require a lot less data to store and share. The process is called 'lossless data compression,' with lossless meaning that while the file size will be greatly reduced, the file itself won't be affected. ZIP is a file archive format. There are others, like RAR and 7-ZIP, but ZIP is the most common.
Why should I zip files?
ZIP files can be extremely useful if you've got a large group of files or even just one massive file that you need to share with your team. A lot of email clients won't allow you to share huge files, so file compression is often seen as one of the best solutions for sending bigger data. You can also use ZIP files to encrypt private data before sending it online.
How to zip a folder or file on Mac
For macOS users, if you're compressing multiple files together, you'll need to make sure they're contained in the same folder. Ideally, you should create a new folder with only the files you wish to compress. You can then simply right-click or Ctrl-click that folder and select 'Compress Items.' The .zip file will be saved in the same location that the original folder is saved.
If you only want to compress certain files in a folder but not the entire folder, hold down the Command key and then click on whichever files you want zipped. When they're all selected, right-click and select 'Compress [#] items.' All items will be compressed into a single ZIP file, called 'archive.zip.' You can change the name by right-clicking the file and selecting Rename. It's the same process if you only want to compress one file—just right-click on it and select 'Compress [filename].'
How to make a zip file on Windows 10
Using 'Send To'
The process is similar for Microsoft users. Make sure all the files you're compressing are in one folder, right-click that folder, and then find the 'Send To' option. In the 'Send To' menu, you should see the 'Compressed Folder' option. Click that, and your compressed file will be saved to your desktop.
To select multiple, but not all files in a folder, hold down the Ctrl key and click each file you want zipped. If all of the files you want to zip appear consecutively in the folder, you can click the first item, hold down the Shift key and select the last item, and then all files in between will also be selected. You can then right-click and compress all of the selected files. To compress a single file, simply right-click it and then follow the same steps.
How To Open A Zip File
Share Tab
Another way to zip files on Windows would be to select all the files you want compressed and, in the 'Share' tab of File Explorer, locate and click the 'Zip' button. This can be done on any Windows computer operating Windows 8.1 or higher, while with older computers you'll need to use the right-click and Send To method.
How to open a ZIP file
To uncompress a zip file on Mac, simply double-click on it. Alternatively, you can right-click on it, hover over 'Open With,' and select 'Archive Utility.' The file will unzip and a new folder will be created with all of the files, in the same location that the ZIP file is stored.
On Windows, you can view the contents of a ZIP folder without unzipping it, but can't edit them unless you extract the files. To do so, right-click on the ZIP folder and select 'Extract All.' The files will be extracted and stored in the same location as the ZIP file, or you can set a different location by pressing 'Browse' in the Extract All wizard. You can also do the same for individual files within a zipped folder if you don't want to extract everything at once. Simply right-click the file and select 'Cut,' and then paste it wherever you want it saved.
Add files to an existing ZIP folder
You might already have a zipped folder that you need to add more files to, and fortunately on Windows this isn't too complicated. Simply drag the new files or folders atop the ZIP file, like you would if you were adding a file to a regular folder.
For Mac, on the other hand, this isn't possible without the use of a third-party service. While there are some third-party archivers like WinZip that are pretty well trusted, it can still be a major security risk, especially if you're zipping private files. With that in mind, the safest way to add new files to a zip folder on Mac would be to create a new zip file from scratch.
How to create a zip file that's password protected
Password protecting ZIP files is possible through Windows 10, to some extent. To do so, right-click on the ZIP file and select 'Properties.' From the 'General' tab, click 'Advanced.' Select 'Encrypt contents to secure data,' click OK in the Advanced window, and then click OK in the Properties window to save your changes. You'll notice that the file icon now shows a padlock. You'll still be able to open the file like normal so long as you're logged into your user account, but other accounts will not be able to access it. This is a decent method for protecting a ZIP file on your own computer, but doesn't provide any security for sending the file elsewhere.
For Mac users, your options are even more limited. There's no way to directly password protect a ZIP file on Mac. You've got to do a bit of legwork using Terminal, which is quite a complicated and, considering the other options available, unnecessary process.
Again, there are plenty of third-party apps that you can use to protect ZIP files on both Windows and Mac. However, this could be hazardous as it would require you granting a third-party access to your unprotected files.
Disadvantages of ZIP files
How To Send A Compressed Zip File
While for the most part ZIP files are an efficient solution for reducing file size, they don't work as effectively for every type of file. For instance, MP4 and JPEG files are already highly compressed as they are, and zipping them won't actually compress them much further. So, while ZIP files should always reduce file size, for certain files this reduction won't be anything too substantial— you can only compress a file so much without damaging it. There is also the risk that files can be damaged or corrupted during the compression process. Furthermore, compressing a file involves a few extra steps, and sending compressed files can become a bit of a hassle–especially when there are alternatives that can get the job done far more efficiently.
Alternatives to ZIP files
Considering the limitations described above, you might find that compressing files isn't really the best solution for you. ZIP files are a good way to save space on your device, but would mean that to use your file you would need to find the ZIP it was in and unzip it before opening it. This could easily become frustratingly time-consuming. You'd be better off seeking an option that lets you keep your files at their original size without taking up any space on your computer—and that's when cloud storage comes in.
A ZIP file is one or more files that have been compressed together in one location. When a file or folder is zipped, its contents are compressed, with redundant data removed, so they use and require a lot less data to store and share. The process is called 'lossless data compression,' with lossless meaning that while the file size will be greatly reduced, the file itself won't be affected. ZIP is a file archive format. There are others, like RAR and 7-ZIP, but ZIP is the most common.
Why should I zip files?
ZIP files can be extremely useful if you've got a large group of files or even just one massive file that you need to share with your team. A lot of email clients won't allow you to share huge files, so file compression is often seen as one of the best solutions for sending bigger data. You can also use ZIP files to encrypt private data before sending it online.
How to zip a folder or file on Mac
For macOS users, if you're compressing multiple files together, you'll need to make sure they're contained in the same folder. Ideally, you should create a new folder with only the files you wish to compress. You can then simply right-click or Ctrl-click that folder and select 'Compress Items.' The .zip file will be saved in the same location that the original folder is saved.
If you only want to compress certain files in a folder but not the entire folder, hold down the Command key and then click on whichever files you want zipped. When they're all selected, right-click and select 'Compress [#] items.' All items will be compressed into a single ZIP file, called 'archive.zip.' You can change the name by right-clicking the file and selecting Rename. It's the same process if you only want to compress one file—just right-click on it and select 'Compress [filename].'
How to make a zip file on Windows 10
Using 'Send To'
The process is similar for Microsoft users. Make sure all the files you're compressing are in one folder, right-click that folder, and then find the 'Send To' option. In the 'Send To' menu, you should see the 'Compressed Folder' option. Click that, and your compressed file will be saved to your desktop.
To select multiple, but not all files in a folder, hold down the Ctrl key and click each file you want zipped. If all of the files you want to zip appear consecutively in the folder, you can click the first item, hold down the Shift key and select the last item, and then all files in between will also be selected. You can then right-click and compress all of the selected files. To compress a single file, simply right-click it and then follow the same steps.
How To Open A Zip File
Share Tab
Another way to zip files on Windows would be to select all the files you want compressed and, in the 'Share' tab of File Explorer, locate and click the 'Zip' button. This can be done on any Windows computer operating Windows 8.1 or higher, while with older computers you'll need to use the right-click and Send To method.
How to open a ZIP file
To uncompress a zip file on Mac, simply double-click on it. Alternatively, you can right-click on it, hover over 'Open With,' and select 'Archive Utility.' The file will unzip and a new folder will be created with all of the files, in the same location that the ZIP file is stored.
On Windows, you can view the contents of a ZIP folder without unzipping it, but can't edit them unless you extract the files. To do so, right-click on the ZIP folder and select 'Extract All.' The files will be extracted and stored in the same location as the ZIP file, or you can set a different location by pressing 'Browse' in the Extract All wizard. You can also do the same for individual files within a zipped folder if you don't want to extract everything at once. Simply right-click the file and select 'Cut,' and then paste it wherever you want it saved.
Add files to an existing ZIP folder
You might already have a zipped folder that you need to add more files to, and fortunately on Windows this isn't too complicated. Simply drag the new files or folders atop the ZIP file, like you would if you were adding a file to a regular folder.
For Mac, on the other hand, this isn't possible without the use of a third-party service. While there are some third-party archivers like WinZip that are pretty well trusted, it can still be a major security risk, especially if you're zipping private files. With that in mind, the safest way to add new files to a zip folder on Mac would be to create a new zip file from scratch.
How to create a zip file that's password protected
Password protecting ZIP files is possible through Windows 10, to some extent. To do so, right-click on the ZIP file and select 'Properties.' From the 'General' tab, click 'Advanced.' Select 'Encrypt contents to secure data,' click OK in the Advanced window, and then click OK in the Properties window to save your changes. You'll notice that the file icon now shows a padlock. You'll still be able to open the file like normal so long as you're logged into your user account, but other accounts will not be able to access it. This is a decent method for protecting a ZIP file on your own computer, but doesn't provide any security for sending the file elsewhere.
For Mac users, your options are even more limited. There's no way to directly password protect a ZIP file on Mac. You've got to do a bit of legwork using Terminal, which is quite a complicated and, considering the other options available, unnecessary process.
Again, there are plenty of third-party apps that you can use to protect ZIP files on both Windows and Mac. However, this could be hazardous as it would require you granting a third-party access to your unprotected files.
Disadvantages of ZIP files
How To Send A Compressed Zip File
While for the most part ZIP files are an efficient solution for reducing file size, they don't work as effectively for every type of file. For instance, MP4 and JPEG files are already highly compressed as they are, and zipping them won't actually compress them much further. So, while ZIP files should always reduce file size, for certain files this reduction won't be anything too substantial— you can only compress a file so much without damaging it. There is also the risk that files can be damaged or corrupted during the compression process. Furthermore, compressing a file involves a few extra steps, and sending compressed files can become a bit of a hassle–especially when there are alternatives that can get the job done far more efficiently.
Alternatives to ZIP files
Considering the limitations described above, you might find that compressing files isn't really the best solution for you. ZIP files are a good way to save space on your device, but would mean that to use your file you would need to find the ZIP it was in and unzip it before opening it. This could easily become frustratingly time-consuming. You'd be better off seeking an option that lets you keep your files at their original size without taking up any space on your computer—and that's when cloud storage comes in.
When you use Dropbox Smart Sync, you're saving your files to an online server, so they don't take up any space on your computer, and you can access them from anywhere that has internet connection. With Dropbox, you can upload files of any size, in any file format, and sharing them with others just takes a few button clicks. You're not risking files being corrupted during compression, you can upload effortlessly and send large files in an instant, and you save a few steps in the process.
Even if you still need to use ZIP files–you can save and send them from Dropbox, and even preview a zipped file through Dropbox itself.
How To Save A Compressed Zip File Download
If you download the Dropbox desktop app, then getting your files on Dropbox is as simple as just dragging them into the Dropbox folder. On the web app, you can drag and drop files straight into Google Chrome, Safari, or whatever browser you're using with the web app open. Then, sharing your files and folders is as simple as clicking Share and choosing who to send them to. Just like you can do with ZIP folders, you are able to password protect Dropbox files so that only those who are granted access and have the password can open them. You and your team can share and edit files and folders through Dropbox itself, without having to create and send new ZIP files with updated documents every time. Everything on Dropbox updates as you edit, making collaboration a whole lot more efficient.
