Zip Files and Folders in Windows 11/10 Without Any Software

Published by Nyau Wai Hoe - Updated on

Windows 11 and Windows 10 both have a built-in file compression tool that allows you to zip files and folders without the need for third-party software. This tutorial will guide you on how to quickly compress any number of files and folders with just a few clicks.

Compress files and folders in Windows 10/11

In the directory where the files and folders you want to zip are located, follow the steps below to zip them up:

  1. Select the files and folders you want to compress. You can do this by clicking on a single file or folder, holding down the Ctrl key and clicking on multiple items, or holding down the Shift key and clicking on a range of items.Select and highlight files and folders for compression
  2. Right-click on any of the highlighted items, and a menu will appear. Hover over the “Send to” option, and then select “Compressed (zipped) folder” from the submenu. Alternatively, you can also click on the “See more” three-dots menu icon in the File Explorer ribbon and select “Compress to Zip file”.How to Zip a File or Folder in Windows 11/10
  3. A new zip folder will be created in the same directory as the files and folders you selected. The name of the zip folder will be the same as the first file or folder you selected by default, but you can rename it to something else if you want.Compress and Encrypt File or Folder in Windows 10/11
  4. To add more files or folders to the same zip folder, simply drag and drop them into the open zip folder.

You can compress multiple files and folders simultaneously by selecting and highlighting them together before initiating the compression process. There is no limit to the number of files and folders you can compress in one go.

How to unzip a zip folder without software

To unzip a zip folder in Windows 11/10, simply right-click on the zip folder and select “Extract all“. This will extract all the files and folders from the zip folder into a new folder with the same name as the zip folder.

How to Unzip Files and Folders in Windows 11/10 without any software

Alternatively, you can also browse into the zip folder directly by double-clicking on it. From there, you can copy any files or folders you want and paste them elsewhere.

Extract zip files without software

Please note that the default Windows 10/11 built-in compression tool only works with “.zip” folders without password protection. If you need to work with other compression extensions such as “.rar” or “.7z”, you will need to install third-party compression software such as WinRAR and 7-Zip.

Zipping a file with password

If you need to zip files with password protection, you will need to use third-party compression software such as WinRAR, WinZip, or 7zip. These third-party compression tools have password protection features that allow you to protect your files and folders with a password.

To zip a file with a password using WinRAR, for example, simply right-click on the file you want to compress and select “Add to archive”. From there, you can set a password for the zip file by clicking on the “Set password” button and entering your desired password.

Zip a file or folder with password using WinRAR

WinRAR, WinZip and 7zip are the 3 most popular file compression software for Windows users. Other than the password protected compression feature, they have much better compression method to further reduce the size of your files and folders. You can do a lot more with your zip files and folders with these software if you don’t mind the hassles of installing them.


Nyau Wai Hoe
Nyau Wai Hoe is the Founder and Chief Editor of WindowsDigitals.com. With a degree in software engineering and over 12 years of experience in the tech support industry, Nyau has established himself as an expert in the field, with a primary focus on the Microsoft Windows operating system. As a tech enthusiast, he loves exploring new technologies and leveraging them to solve real-life problems.

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