How to Zip Files on Android in 2023: Top 5 Methods

ZIP file is a convenient method to compress and transfer large files. Learn how to zip files on Android using reliable solutions.

Have you ever do a hard disk junk cleaning, and after a few hours of painstakingly selecting files you wanted to remove, your poor old hard disk is still running out of space? Or maybe, it’s taking too much time to transfer that Blu-Ray movie from your smartphone to your computer because the file is just too massive. Let’s talk about how to zip files on Android that’ll help you get rid of all the problems stated above.

Understanding Data Compression

Data compression is a method where you compact your data by encrypting parts of it, reducing its total size. It generally works by reducing repeated data by arranging it differently or encoding it into shorter bits. Different types of files have different methods to go about compressing files.

Compression Types

There are two kinds of compression. There is lossless compression, which arranges and encodes the data and reduces the total size without eliminating any sum data, keeping the quality of the data the same. This is crucial for software files because if you lose some of the data, the software will not work at all.

Then there’s lossy compression, which reduces the sum of the data and the quality while retaining key information. This way, the data can still be identified and used. It puts heavy emphasis on reducing the size (bytes). It’s useful for images, audio, and video compression because we can still recognize its key features even if there are some missing pixels.

What’s a ZIP File?

A ZIP file is a format for lossless compressed data. It’s developed by PKWARE.Inc, released on 14 February 1989. ZIP enables you to keep files on a ZIP archive for better storage or to transfer them to another system. However, you can’t use or execute a certain file when it is archived or zipped. It’s a versatile file format to use across various platforms, which is why it’s still used now, 31 years later.

To explain how ZIP works, all of the information on your computer is basically just 8 strings of 1’s and 0’s, or as the tech guys called it, a ‘byte’. The ZIP system figures out what the most common byte are in your file, ranking them from the most common to the least common. The most common byte is replaced with a variable that is a bit (like number 1 or 0). Then the second most common byte is replaced by 2 bits (two numbers, like 10,11, or 00).

Then the third most common byte is replaced by 3 bits, and so on, until the bytes reached a redundancy. This way, the sum file size is much smaller than the uncompressed version.

How to Create a ZIP File on Android?

Many users associate zipping files with computers and are unaware of the fact they can create a ZIP file on their Android device as well. In the following sections, I’ll tell you how to zip files and folders on Android smartphones.

Method 1: Zip a Folder Using File Manager

In most Android phones, there is a native option available for compressing a folder and turning it into a ZIP file. With the help of this technique, you can put all your necessary files into a folder and then zip it readily. Follow the below steps to perform this method. If you already have a folder that you need to zip, you can skip the initial steps.

Open File Manager on your Android phone.
Long-tap on all the files that you want to zip to select them.

Select multiple files to put them in a folder for zipping

Tap on the Move icon. In some Android versions, you need to tap on the three dots in the top right corner to get the Move option.
Select Internal Storage.
Tap on More and select Create folder.

Create a new folder and enter a name for it

Add a name to this folder and tap on OK.
Navigate to the new folder and tap on Paste.
The selected items will be moved to the new folder.
Tap on the Back button to return to the Internal storage.
Long-tap the new folder to select it.

After selecting the new folder, choose More icon and tap Compress

Tap on the More icon and choose Compress.
Add a name for the compressed file and tap OK.

Method 2: Zip Multiple Files With Native Option

In case you’re wondering how to zip images on Android, here is the ideal approach for you. In some Android phone versions, you’ll get the option to compress individually selected images or photos without moving them into a folder first.

On your Android phone, select the images you want to zip by long tapping.
Tap on the three dots icon located in the top-right corner.
Select Compress from the options.
Now, choose ZIP and proceed with the next prompts.
The files will be saved in a ZIP file.

Method 3: Zip Files on Android With WinZip

WinZip is a reliable app that can be used for creating ZIP files on Android. If you don’t have this app on your device yet, you can download it from Google Play Store. After installing this app on your smartphone, you need to follow these steps to zip the files of your choice.

Tap on WinZip icon from the App Drawer to open the app.
Enable Allow access to manage all files option by tapping on the slider button.
Exit the app and open it again.
Navigate to any folder of the Internal Storage to select the files you want to zip.
There are also options to zip files from Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and Server.

Select files to zip them by clicking on the Zip icon on top — Select files to zip them by tapping on the Zip icon at the top

Select the files you want to move to a ZIP file.
Tap on the Zip icon on the top menu.

Select Zip Here button to zip files on Android

Navigate to the destination location where you want to save the ZIP file and tap on the ZIP HERE button.
That’s it. All the selected files will be zipped and saved in the selected location.

Method 4: Use RAR App to Zip Files on Android

Android users can also take the assistance of the RAR app that can create both ZIP and RAR files. Install this app from Play Store and apply the following steps to create a ZIP file.

Launch the app and Allow access to manage all files by tapping on the slider button beside it.
Navigate to the phone storage location from the app interface where the required files are stored.
Tap on the checkbox for each file to select it.

After selecting the files, tap on the Archive plus icon from the top menu

Tap on the Archive (+) icon.
Choose the Browse button to select a location for the ZIP file.
Select the radio button for ZIP.
Select ZIP and make other necessary settings changes
You can also change the archive name, set a password and enable other settings.
Tap on OK to create a ZIP file from the selected files.

Method 5: Zip Files and Folders with AZIP Master

Another popular Android app for creating ZIP files on Android is AZIP Master. To use this app, you need to download and install it from the Play Store. After the installation, here is what you need to do on your Android phone.

Launch the app and tap on Get Started button.
Tap on Allow in Grant permission pop-up.
Also, tap on the button for Allow access to manage all files option.
Go back to the main interface of this app with a list of recent files.
Tap on the Show all option to browse through all the files.

Select files from AZIP master app interface and tap on Compress icon — Select files from the AZIP master app interface and tap on the Compress icon

Select your necessary files and tap on the Compress icon.
On the next screen, add the name of the folder. You can also change the destination location of the ZIP file.
You’ll see the default format is set as zip.
You can also change settings for the compression level.
If you want, you can also set a password for the file and choose to delete files after archiving.

Add file name, change settings and finally tap on Compress button to zip the file — Add file name, change settings, and finally, tap on the Compress button to zip the file

Finally, tap on the Compress button.
You can access this ZIP file any time you want from the location where you’ve saved it.

FAQs on How to ZIP Files on Android

How to Zip a File on Android?

There are different ways to zip a file on Android device. You may use the native compression option of your phone. If that’s not available, you can also download various apps from Google Play Store and use those to create ZIP files on Android.

Can I Zip Files on Android?

Yes, it’s possible to zip files on your Android device or smartphone. There are different Android apps that let you zip single or multiple files and folders on Android.

Conclusion

ZIP files can be useful in different situations. When you need to send someone files or folders in ZIP format, there is no need to move those files or folders to a PC. If needed, you can create a ZIP file on your Android device following the methods stated above.

Now that you know how to zip files on Android, let’s share this article with your friends and colleagues on social media. If you know any other method of creating ZIP files on Android, tell us in the comment section.

Also read, how to compress or decompress Android files.