File compression is usually done when there is less space — either on the device or on the external drive. The compressed files require less space and thus are more portable. These files also come in handy if you want to send the data through an email or are transferring the files via Bluetooth or some other medium.

Here is a short and simple guide to help you zip (compress) or unzip (decompress) files in Windows 10 in four steps.

Zip (Compress) files in Windows 10

To zip or compress a file or a folder in Window 10, follow the steps given below.

You don’t need to install any third-party compression software if you are using Windows 10 as it comes with a pre-packed compression and decompression feature.

Step 1: Open the File Explorer. (Go to the taskbar and then type File Explorer in the search box).

Step 2: After that, right-click on the file(s) or the folder that you want to compress.

Step 3: Then, hover the cursor on the Send to option.

Step 4: From the second menu, select the Compressed (Zipped) Folder option.

Once you have completed the steps, you will notice that a Zip folder has been created. This is the folder that contains all your compressed files. Now, you’ll see that the size of this folder is less than the combined size of the files that you selected. The small size makes the folder more compatible if you are facing a space crunch.

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Unzip (Decompress) files in Windows 10

In the previous process, we have told you how to compress the files. Here, we will explain how you can again unzip or decompress the files that you have compressed.

Follow the instructions given below to decompress the files. Step 1: Right-click on the Zip folder.

Step 2: Now, select the Extract All option.

Step 3: Select the destination and then click on Extract.

This will extract all the files to the destination of your choice into the original file size that was compressed in the first place.

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