A man using two computer monitors while surrounded by plants and cats.
It's easy to zip your files on any system.
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Over time, your collection of photos, videos, documents, and games can take up a lot of space. Fortunately, there's a way to free up storage space without having to delete anything.

Related Article Module: How to unzip ZIP files on any device, including smartphones

You can compress multiple files into a ZIP file, which reduces their file size without deleting anything. Zipping files is a great way to share them, or to store files you don't open often.

Here's how to zip files on every popular device and operating system.

How to zip files on a Windows PC

1. Select all the files you want to zip. You can either drag a box around them, or hold Ctrl and click each one individually.

2. Right-click one of the files and select Send to, then select Compressed (zipped) folder.

A Windows 10 desktop, with the option to send files to a zipped folder highlighted.
The option to zip files can be found in the "Send to" menu.
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3. A ZIP file will appear containing all the compressed data. Feel free to rename or move this file however you'd like.

If you want more control over how files get compressed, try using an app like WinZip or WinRar.

How to zip files on a Mac

1. Select all the files you want to zip. You can either drag a box around them, or hold Command and click each one individually.

2. Right-click one of the files and select Compress.

Five folders are highlighted on a Mac desktop, and the option to compress them is highlighted.
Right-click your highlighted files and select the "Compress" option.
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3. A ZIP file will appear containing all the compressed data. Feel free to rename or move this file however you'd like.

How to zip files on Chromebook

1. In the Files app, select all of the files that you want to zip. You can either drag a box around them, or hold Ctrl and click each one individually.

2. Right-click one of the files and select Zip selection.

A Chromebook's Files app with a number of files selected. The "Zip selection" option is highlighted.
You can zip multiple types of files together.
William Antonelli/Insider

3. A ZIP file will appear containing all the compressed data. Feel free to rename or move this file however you'd like.

How to zip files in Linux

Unlike other systems, you'll need to use the command line to zip files on a Linux computer.

1. Open a command window by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.

2. In the command window, type:

zip [what you want the zip file to be called].zip [files you want to zip]

So for example, if you wanted to zip a text file called "cat" and an image called "dog" into a ZIP file called "animals," you'd type:

zip animals.zip cat.txt dog.jpg

Your files will "deflate" - Linux's term for compressing - and then form the ZIP file. It'll appear in the same directory as the original files, and you'll see a percentage showing how compressed each file is.

A Linux command window with the zip command entered. Two files have been compressed.
Linux refers to compression as "deflating."
William Antonelli/Insider

If you want to zip files using an app instead of command strings, consider downloading an app like PeaZip.

How to zip files on an iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Files app and find the files that you want to zip up.

2. On an iPhone, tap the three dots (...) in the top-right corner and then Select. On an iPad, just tap Select in the top-right corner.

An iPhone's Files app, with the "Select" option highlighted.
You'll need to select all of the files you want to zip up.
William Antonelli/Insider

3. Tap all the documents you want to zip.

4. Select the three dots (iPhone) or More (iPad) in the bottom-right corner and hit Compress.

An iPhone Files app with the "Compress" option highlighted.
Compress all of the files you selected into one ZIP.
William Antonelli/Insider

A ZIP file will be saved to the folder you selected.

How to zip files on an Android

Depending on your Android device, you may have the File Manager app as a built-in way to create ZIP files. But if it's missing, downloading a third-party app like WinZip is an easy way to zip your files. Just note that to use all of WinZip's features, you'll need to buy the premium version.

Using File Manager

1. Open the File Manager app and move all the flies you want to compress to a single folder.

2. Tap on the three dots in the right-hand corner.

3. Select all the items you want to zip, and at the bottom tap Compress.

4. Then select Save and a new folder will be created with the compressed files.

Using WinZip

1. Download and open WinZip, then give it access to your files when asked.

2. You'll see a list of folders, each with a different type of media on your device. Head to the folder of your choice.

3. If you're selecting a single file, hit the three dots directly to the right of it. If you're selecting multiple files, hold your finger down on one and then select all the files you'd like.

4. Tap Zip.

The Android WinZip app with files and the "Zip" option highlighted.
The "Zip" option should be the first on the list.
William Antonelli/Insider

5. Choose the save location (Storage, Google Drive, etc.) and select Zip here.

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