How To Zip Files In Windows, Mac or Linux

If you’re looking for an extraordinary guide on how to zip files on several platforms like Windows, Linux, Mac or Ubuntu etc. Then you’ve visited on the right article, Moreover, zipping a file or folder is a critical task to perform. Because if you don’t zip a file with proper steps or application then your file that you’re using will may be corrupted.

In this article, we are going to guide how you can easily zip or unzip any file you want on different platforms in no time without having a hassle. Generally, there are some methods you can use to zip or unzip any file or folder.

How To Zip or Unzip Files On Windows 7, 8, 10

In Windows,  to zipping or compress a file or folder required a third-party tool called WinRar. Firstly you’ve to download WinRAR’s latest version on your Windows (OS). After downloading and installing the WinRAR or 7 Zip applications on your computer follow below-given steps by step instructions to compress any file or folder.

Step 1: 

Go to the File or Folder that you want to compress.

Step 2: 

Right-click on the file or folder to open a quick menu. Now select the option Zip or Unzip according to the need.

You can also compress or zip any file or document before sending it to others directly through the application. Open the application (WinRAR or 7 Zip) from the Start Menu or desktop shortcut and go to the navigation bar on application. select “Compress a file” and choose a file to zip and wait till the file will be compressed. Now select the location on your computer where you want to place that zip file.

How To Zip A File In Mac Computer

There are lots of readers who asked how to create a zip file on mac through a comment box. So here is a simple guide to create a zip achieve on mac. Moreover, it lots easier to create zip in mac using the compression tools that already built-in into Mac OS X. So you don’t need to install any applications like Windows.

Follow the given below steps by step instructions to make a zip file on Mac OS X —

1. Firstly, Locate the items to zip in the Mac Finder application

2. Now Right-click on the file or folder that you want to compress on Mac

3. From the list of menu, Select “Compress Items”.

4. Locate the newly created zip file in the same directory.

If an individual file is being zipped, the zip archive will keep the official file name but append the .zip extension. However, if you zipped multiple files at the same time then the name of the zip archive will number vice.

How To Zip Files In Linux 

Most of the Linux users unzip files in Linux but ever wonder. How to zip files in Linux? don’t worry in the short tutorial will tell you to know how you can create a zip file on Linux using a command line. To avoid extra hassle.

Generally, in Linux, the zip support will automatically be installed as default. But in case, if you cannot able to find the zip program in your Linux then use this command line to install it.

sudo apt install zip unzip

 

Now your Linux computer has Zip program support. So you can follow below givens command lines to create a zip file on your Linux.

Create A Zip File In Linux Using Command Lines

The syntax for making a zip file is much straight forward

zip [option] output_file_name input1 input2

 

In case, if you only want to create a zip folder for a stack of files and documents use this command line

zip -r output_file.zip file1 folder1

 

The ( -r) option will recurse into directories and reduce its contents as well. The .zip extension in the output files is arbitrary as .zip is added by default.

Moreover, In Linux, you’re not restricted to create a zip file using the command lines. You can also make zip files using GUI. For this, go to the file and folder that you want to compress and right-click on that file. After this from the menu choose “Compress” and you’re done. Move the zip file to its another location if you want to keep a zip folder or file separate from the original file.