How to Zip Files on Macs

Compressing files has long been an option for Mac users. Zipped files take up less space on the computer than uncompressed files. The zip format is ideal for use when archiving, emailing files or transporting something on a thumb drive without a lot of space. The capacity to zip files is built into the Mac operating system.

Instructions

1. Select the file that you would like to compress. Right-click the mouse or hold down "control" and click.

2. Select "Compress," which is Apple-speak for zip, on the menu that pops up. This creates a new zipped file with the same name as the uncompressed file and a .zip extension. Alternatively, click "File" in the menu bar, followed by "Compress."

3. Click an entire folder for compression, if desired. The process is the same except that the finished file is named "Archive.zip."

Tips & Warnings

• To unzip files you receive, double-click the file to unzip it.