How to use the Create ZIP
- Pick the files, drag them in, or drop a folder to take everything inside it.
- Type a name for the ZIP. Under More settings you can change the compression level or add a password.
- Click Create and save the ZIP, ready to attach.
What zipping saves on paperwork
Plain text, CSV exports and uncompressed scans in BMP or TIFF often shrink by 60 to 90 percent. DOCX, XLSX and PDF files are compressed internally already, so expect a modest 0 to 15 percent. JPG photos, MP3s and MP4s hardly change; the ZIP simply turns many attachments into one.
When the bundle is mostly photos or phone scans saved as JPG, choose "Store only". The ZIP is built far faster and ends up almost the same size.
Password protection and its limits
A password encrypts every file with AES-256. The ZIP format still leaves the file names readable, so "salary-review.xlsx" is visible to anyone who opens the archive. If the names are sensitive too, make a 7Z, which hides them.
Explorer in several Windows versions refuses AES ZIPs. Tell the recipient they may need 7-Zip, WinRAR, Keka or the unzip page on this site.
How the files are arranged
Files from a dropped folder sit side by side at the top level of the ZIP; subfolders are not recreated. Two files with the same name never overwrite each other: the second is saved as "name (2).ext".
Should a single file exceed 4 GB, or the entry count pass 65,535, the ZIP64 extension is switched on for you.
Questions
How many files can I add?
There is no count limit. The ZIP is assembled in memory, so total size is bounded by the browser, on a desktop usually around two gigabytes.
Which level suits office documents?
Normal. Ultra trims a few more percent from text at the cost of time, and Store only is best for photos and video.