How do I compress or make files into one file?
Question
How do I compress or make multiple files into one file?
Answer
Microsoft Windows XP and later users
Users who are using Microsoft Windows XP or later operating systems can compress files using the included compression utility by following the below steps.
- Select each of the files and folders you wish to add to the compressed file.
- Right-click one of the selected files or folders and click 'Send To' and then click 'Compressed (zipped) Folder'.
If done successfully, the computer should create a .ZIP file with the name of the file or folder you right-clicked. For example, if you right-clicked on a file named todo.txt, the compressed file with that file and any other file or folder selected would become todo.zip and be located in the same directory.
Microsoft Windows XP users can also use third-party compression utilities and online services.
Microsoft Windows 98 and earlier users
Because other versions of Microsoft Windows do not come pre-bundled with their own compression utility, it is up to the user to install and use a third-party compression utility. Before following any of the below steps, you must download and install one of these utilities.
Once one of the compression utilities has been installed on the computer, you can use it to compress and combine multiple files into one compressed file. Below is a basic example of how this could be done.
- Select each of the files and folders you wish to add to the compressed file.
- Right-click one of the selected files or folders and click the compression utility quick link. For example, with WinRAR you would click 'Add to archive...' or 'Add to "<name of file>"'; with WinZip you would click 'Add to Zip'.
In addition to the above suggestions, users can also often open the program through Start/Programs and add the files manually through the program itself.
Linux users
Unlike many other operating systems, almost all variants of Linux and Unix come pre-installed with some form of command capable of compressing and uncompressing files. Linux and Unix users are likely to be dealing with file extensions such as .TAR, TGZ, .Z or .TAR.GZ. See the below Linux and Unix command pages for additional information about the commands used to create compressed files and to uncompress files.
Additional information
- How do I extract or uncompress a compressed file?
- See the compress definition for further information and related links.
- Recommended downloads.