How to Archive Folders on Windows or Mac: Clear Up Storage Space

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Compress your files and folders to save space

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Archiving (zipping) folders will create a new, smaller folder and free up storage space! Zipping a folder means compressing it into a .zip file. No info is lost, and it can be unzipped at any time. In Windows and macOS, you can right-click and zip a folder. This wikiHow guide will show you how to archive folders on Windows or Mac using the built-in operating system tools.

Things You Should Know

  • For Windows, archive a folder by right-clicking the folder, then selecting Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder .
  • On Mac, right-click the folder, then select File > Compress . This will create a zipped copy of the folder.
  • To unzip the folder: double-click it (macOS), or right-click > Extract All (Windows).
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Windows

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  1. Open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon on your Taskbar. Or, press Windows + E . This method will cover how to compress the folder into a ZIP file. [1]
  2. This will open the folder’s options menu.
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  3. Then click Compressed (zipped) folder . This will create a new zipped folder in the same file location as the original folder.
    • If you have a specific location you want to keep zipped files in, you can now move your ZIP file there. This might be a different folder or drive on your computer, or a portable storage drive.
    • To unzip a zipped folder, right-click the folder and choose Extract All .
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

macOS

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  1. Open Finder by clicking the Finder icon (a smiling blue and white face). Then, go to the folder you want to compress. [2]
  2. This will open the folder options pop-up menu.
  3. This will compress the folder into a new ZIP file called “Archive.zip”.
    • Rename the file to something that describes the contents. For example, “camping_trip_photos.zip”.
    • Double-click on the .zip file to expand and unzip it.
    • You can also synchronize folders if you’re looking for a way to access a folder from multiple computers.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    where are my archived files
    Kyle Smith
    wikiHow Technology Writer
    Kyle Smith is a wikiHow Technology Writer, learning and sharing information about the latest technology. He has presented his research at multiple engineering conferences and is the writer and editor of hundreds of online electronics repair guides. Kyle received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
    Kyle Smith
    wikiHow Technology Writer
    Expert Answer
    Archived (compressed) files will appear in the same location as the original, uncompressed file. You can move the compressed file to a new location (such as a different folder or drive).
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  • Question
    After archiving, the folder is not showing in my computer. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    Check in your trash folder. Perhaps you accidentally deleted it.
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      Tips

      • Archiving folders allows you to keep your ongoing and your completed work separate. Using the archive function will also speed up your search results because there is much less data to sift through.
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      • Save even more disc space by being selective about the files and folders you keep.
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      • Use the compress or zip function for all files except those with MP3, GIF, JPEG or other compressed file formats. Those kinds of files are already compressed, you won’t be able to reduce them further.
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      Warnings

      • Archiving and compressing does not equal backup. Always back up your work on a removable disc, flash drive or store it in the cloud. If your computer crashes, your archived folders will not be protected.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/zip-and-unzip-files-8d28fa72-f2f9-712f-67df-f80cf89fd4e5
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/zip-and-unzip-files-and-folders-on-mac-mchlp2528/mac#:~:text=Compress%20a%20file%20or%20folder,compressed%20file%20is%20called%20Archive

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