You are not exactly new to the world of computers and recently you found yourself having to fulfill a request from a colleague to create ZIP files. However, since you are not an expert on what to do at first, you decided to put it on the back burner. However, if you are reading this guide right now, it is probably because you would like to learn more about it. If this is the case and you want to understand how to create ZIP files, you can count on me.
In the following lines I’m going to show you what, in my opinion, are the best resources currently available on the market to create ZIP files and how to take advantage of them, both on Windows PC and Mac. Before you worry and think the worst, I want to reassure you about one thing: contrary to appearances, creating ZIP files is not complicated, really.
So, if you want to find out what you need to do to create ZIP files from your computer, I invite you to get comfortable, take a few minutes of your free time and devote yourself to the careful reading of the information I am about to give you.
Create ZIP files on Windows PC
Hamster Free Zip Archiver
If you have a computer running Windows and if you are looking for a free program to create Zip files I suggest you first of all to turn to Hamster Free Zip Archiver. It is a software that allows you to create ZIP files but also to open them and that is particularly suitable for novice users, but not only. The program has a very neat graphics and simplified options completely in Italian.
In order to create ZIP files with this program, the first step you need to take is to click here so that you can immediately connect to the Hamster Free Zip Archiver website. Then click on the Free Download button located in the center of the web page that is shown to download the program to your PC.
When the download is complete, open the downloaded file by double-clicking on it and then click Run, Yes, OK and Next twice in a row. Now check the second item on the screen that opens, uncheck all other options to avoid installing additional browser toolbars, click Next twice in order to finish the software installation process and then click on the Finish button.
Wait until the Hamster Free Zip Archiver window appears on the screen and then click the Use by default button to set Hamster Free Zip Archiver as the default program for opening and creating compressed archives (if you are not interested in this, decline the invitation by closing the warning window shown on the screen) and then click the Release files here button and select the items you want to create ZIP files with. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the files you want to act on into the program window.
Now type the name you want to assign to the compressed archive in the text field next to the pencil icon at the top of the screen and if you think it is appropriate adjust the compression level to be assigned to the ZIP archive to be generated by clicking the Compression Level button and selecting an option from Minimum, Optimal and Maximum. Eventually you can also choose to create archives divided into multiple volumes and password-protected using the Split and Protect buttons at the top.
Then click the Compress button, select the Save on the PC item from the menu shown and select the folder where the compressed archive will be saved using the Folder Selection button. The duration of the procedure to create ZIP files depends on the weight of the files to be compressed and the power of your PC. If you want to reduce the time and make the procedure of creating ZIP files even simpler you can also save your archive by selecting the box icon in the upper right corner and dragging it to the desktop.
ZIP files created with Hamster Free Zip Archiver can be opened and unpacked with Hamster Free Zip Archiver itself or any other compressed archive management program.
7-Zip
The software to create ZIP files that I have already suggested to you did not convince you in a particular way and you are still looking for some good resource to succeed in your intent? If the answer is “yes” then try using 7-Zip. This is a free program that is widely used and appreciated by users. The software is available in English and allows you to zipper files, folders, photos and videos in a very simple and fast way.
If you are interested in finding out what you need to do to create ZIP files on Windows PC with 7-Zip, for starters, click here to connect to the software’s website and then click on the Download option for the 32-bit or 64-bit version of the application, depending on the operating system you use.
Once the download is complete, open the file you just downloaded and in the window that is now shown on the screen click first on Yes, then on Install and finally on Close to finish the installation process of 7-Zip.
At this point, believe it or not, all you have to do to create ZIP files is to select with the right button of the mouse the element on which you want to act, click on the item 7-Zip attached to the menu that is shown and then choose Add to Archive….
In the window now displayed select the type of archive you want to create (Zip, in this specific case) from the dropdown menu next to the Archive Format item, then indicate its compression level from the dropdown menu next to Compression Level: and type the name you want to assign to the archive in the Archive Name field.
If you consider it opportune, you can also protect your archives with a password. To do this, type the password you intend to use in the Insert password: and Reinsert password: fields at the bottom right of the window for creating a new archive.
After all these steps are done, you can finally start the actual process of creating ZIP files. To do so, click OK.
Keep in mind that if you find yourself having to compress a large file with 7-Zip you can also split it into several parts and save it on the media you prefer without worrying about the space occupied. To create a “chopped” ZIP file, select the size you want each part of the archive to take from the dropdown menu located under the heading Split into several files (size in bytes): at the bottom left of the window for creating a new archive.
ZIP files created with 7-Zip can be opened and unpacked with 7-Zip itself or any other compressed archive management program.
Other solutions to create ZIP files
Other solutions to create ZIP files
If the resources I have already proposed to you to create ZIP files on Windows computers did not convince you in a particular way before throwing in the towel, I suggest you to have a look at my guide on how to zipper a file with WinRAR, where I explain in detail how to use WinRAR to create compressed archives in ZIP format, and how to create and open zipper archives online, where I explain how to create and open ZIP files directly from your browser using a special web service. I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for.
Create ZIP files on Mac
Compression Utility
If you own a Mac and you’re going to create ZIP files I have a good, or rather wonderful news to give you: to do this you don’t need to install any extra resource, you just need to take advantage of the Compression Utility tool integrated “as standard” in OS X. You probably didn’t know it, but yes, all Macs have a special function to compress files and folders in a very simple way, really!
In order to create ZIP files on Mac using Compression Utility all you have to do is select the file, files, folder or folders you want to work on, right-click on it and select the option Compress “filename” (instead of “filename” you will find the name of the file or folder you selected) or Compress number of items (instead of number of items you will find the total number of files and folders you selected).
After these steps, the Mac will create a ZIP file with the contents of the selected items. The file will be saved in the same directory as the original folder and will be named after it.
The option to compress documents is available on the desktop and in all folders on the Mac, except for the All My Documents section of the Finder where all recent files are displayed grouped by genre.
If you want to customize the operation of Compression Utility you just have to click on the Spotlight icon located in the upper right corner of the menu bar, type Compression Utility in the search field that is shown on the screen and double-click on the first result displayed, the one located under the heading The best. Wait until the Compression Utility icon is visible in the Dock and then click on it, click on Compression Utility in the upper left part of the menu bar and then click on Preferences ….. From the new window that will be shown on screen you can then change the path where to save the expanded files, choose the default action to perform after archiving and much more. To confirm your changes, simply close the utility window.
iZip Archiver
If you think that OS X’s Compression Utility works too blandly, so to speak, and if you’re looking for a more elaborate resource to create ZIP files, you should take a look at iZip Archiver. This is a free application available on the Mac App Store that allows you to create ZIP files and open them without having to extract them. The application allows you to generate compressed archives in other formats as well.
If you want to try to create ZIP files with iZip Archiver the first thing you have to do is to click here to connect to the download page of the program. Once the web page is displayed click on the blue button View in Mac App Store and wait for iZip Archiver to be opened in the Mac App Store on your Mac.
Then click on the blue Get button in the upper left corner, enter your Apple ID password and click the Sign In button to download and install the program on your computer.
Once the installation is complete, start iZip Archiver by clicking on its icon in the OS X Launchpad and start creating a new ZIP archive by clicking on Create Archive. Then click on the Specify name button to specify the name you want to give to the archive and the folder where you want to save it, check the Extra compression box if you want to create an archive with a high compression rate and click on the Next button.
To finish, click on the + button located at the bottom right corner of the iZip Archiver window, select the item you want to compress and then click the Next button three times to finish the process of creating ZIP files.
Do you use an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch in combination with your Mac and would you like to be able to create ZIP files not only on your computer but also on mobile? If the answer is yes, then you’ll be happy to know that it is possible. In order to find out which tools to use and which steps you need to take, I suggest you to read my guide on how to zipper files with iPad where, in spite of the title, I explain you how to zipper files on iOS devices. If you are interested in acting specifically on photos you can instead consult my guide on how to zipper photos with iPad.