How to Zip and Unzip Files in Windows

Learn how to compress and extract files in Windows 11 using native File Explorer tools without third-party software.

1. Select the files for compression. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder containing the items you wish to compress. Click and drag to highlight the specific files or folders, or hold the Ctrl key while clicking to select multiple non-adjacent items.
2. Initiate the compression command. Right-click on any of the selected items. In the context menu, click 'Compress to ZIP file'.
3. Name the archive. A new file with a .zip extension will appear in your current directory with a highlighted text field. Type your preferred filename and press Enter to finalize the creation of the archive.
4. Open the extraction menu. To extract a zip file, right-click the file in File Explorer. Select 'Extract All' from the context menu to launch the extraction wizard.
5. Define the destination path. A dialog box will appear asking for the destination folder. Click 'Browse' to choose a specific location or leave the default path as is to extract the files into a new folder within the current directory.
6. Execute the extraction. Click the 'Extract' button at the bottom of the window. The system will decompress the archive and present the files in the target location.