How do i compress a file in windows 7

Notes: To add files or folders to a zipped folder you created earlier, drag them to the zipped folder. Need more help? Join the discussion. Was this information helpful? Yes No. Thank you! Any more feedback? The more you tell us the more we can help. Can you help us improve? Resolved my issue. Clear instructions. Easy to follow. Note: When you zip or unzip files, the original files are not deleted.

If you want to delete the original files, you will have to do so manually. For zipping and unzipping most files, the built-in Windows utility will suffice; however, if you encounter a compressed format not supported by the built-in Windows tools, you can try one of the following programs:. Note: These third-party tools are not available on IUware and may require purchase, although most offer free trials. This is document ahyt in the Knowledge Base. Last modified on By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy.

Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article methods. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Method 1. Install 7-Zip for Windows. Once downloaded, double-click the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install 7-Zip. Right-click the file or folder you want to compress.

If you want to compress multiple files into one ZIP, you can add them to a folder and right-click that, or just hold down the Control key as you click each file, and then right-click the highlighted area. Select 7-Zip on the menu. A few options will appear. Click Add to archive…. Select an archive format. The ZIP format is the easiest to open on other platforms, but if you choose the 7z format, you'll typically wind up with a smaller ZIP file.

If you plan to send a 7z file to someone else, they'll be able to decompress it without installing additional software on a Mac. If they are using Windows, they'll need to install 7-Zip, WinZip, or another 7z-compatible archive app. Select Ultra from the "Compression level" menu. This will produce the smallest-possible file size. Select a dictionary size optional.

If your file is very large, you can increase the dictionary size beyond the 64 MB default to reduce the size of the file, but it will take much longer to compress. The maximum dictionary size is MB. Click OK to compress the file s. When 7-Zip finishes creating your compressed file, it will appear in the same folder as the original files—it's the file with a. To see the file size of the compressed ZIP, right-click the. Method 2.

Install Keka. Keka is a free, open source file compression tool for macOS that provides more compression options than the built-in zip archive utility.