How to Zip and Unzip Files
Two right-clicks cover the whole process — the useful part is knowing when zipping actually shrinks anything, and what to reach for when you need a password on the archive.
Zipping
Select the file or folder → right-click → "Compress to ZIP file" (Windows) or "Compress" (Mac) — a new .zip file is created without touching the originals.
Unzipping
Double-click the .zip to browse its contents, or right-click → "Extract All" to copy everything into a new folder.
Why zip files at all? It reduces size (especially for text documents) and bundles several files into a single one — much easier to email or share than a handful of loose files.
How much smaller do files actually get?
It depends heavily on the type of content — text documents compress well; photos, videos and music (already compressed in their own formats) barely shrink any further inside an additional ZIP.
Tip: if you need to protect the ZIP with a password, the built-in Windows and Mac feature cannot do it — free programs like 7-Zip do add that option.
Frequently asked questions
Does zipping delete the original files?
No — it creates a new compressed file alongside the originals, which remain completely untouched.
Why do my photos barely shrink when I zip them?
Because they are already compressed in their own formats (JPG, MP4, MP3) — an additional ZIP achieves very little extra reduction on files that are already compressed.