Are you running out of storage or want to organize the data on your iPhone? Compressing a file would help you in either case! A ZIP file is a standard file containing one or more compressed files. The zipped files will occupy less storage and easily transfer from one device to another. The ZIP file is similar to a folder on a device, except for its less space usage capability. Wondering how to zip a file on iPhone?
You can easily zip a file on iPhone running iOS 13 and above using the default “Files” application. You can compress the data downloaded from safari or already stored in the “Files” section using the native “Files” app (which can now compress and decompress the data without any third-party app). On iPhones with iOS versions below 13, you can zip files using the 3rd party apps.
Converting the data files into ZIP format will work for any data type that can be accessed through the Files app — whether stored on the device, iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or any external device. Want to know how can one compress the data on iPhone?
This guide will cover all the information you need to know about zipping files and how the recipient can unzip the files to utilize the data. Keep reading to learn more!
How To Zip a File on iPhone
Want to share multiple files from your iPhone to other devices? A compressed file will occupy less storage space, can be sent faster, and will secure the data. This section will guide you on how to compress the data files on iPhone without using any 3rd party application and a step-by-step guide to each method. Let’s delve into further details.
Method #1: Zip Individual File on iPhone
Here are the steps to zip individual files on iPhone using the native “Files” app.
- First, open the “Files” app on your iPhone device — either “My Phone” or “iCloud Drive.”
- Go to the location where the files are stored. Tap and hold the file you wish to compress.
- Once the file is selected, tap on the three-dot button in a circle and choose “Compress” from the menu.
- The file you selected will be converted to a ZIP file and saved as the same name.
You can only convert data into ZIP files using the native “Files” app on your iPhone if the device is running iOS 13 or above. For iPhones running iOS versions below 13, you’ll need a 3rd party app to create a ZIP file.
Method #2: Zip Multiple Files on iPhone
You can compress multiple files on your iPhone without using any 3rd party application via the native “Files” app. Thus, if you have a whole folder to compress and share, follow the method below to convert all the files in that folder to a ZIP file.
Here are the steps to zip multiple files on iPhone:
- Open the “Files” app and go to “My Phone” or “iCloud Drive.”
You can compress any file accessed via the “Files” app, whether it is stored locally on the device or iCloud Drive. However, make sure that all the files are in the same location in the “Files” app.
- Tap the icon with the three-dot in a circle button and choose the “Select” option.
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Select all the files you wish to compress or zip. Tap the three-dot icon from the bottom right corner and select “Compress” to convert all the selected files into a compressed one.
While using this method, all the selected files will be converted into a ZIP file. However, if you compress a single file into Zip format, the compressed file will have the same name as the file before. In the case of multiple files, the file name will be automatically converted into Archive.zip.
Method #3: Zip File Using Shortcuts
You can also create a shortcut to compress the files in no time. You need to create a zip shortcut to zip files using this method. Here are the steps:
- Go to “Shortcuts” on your iPhone and tap the “+” icon.
- Select the “Add Action” from the pop-up here and search “Make Archive.”
- From the “Input” menu, select the “Shortcut Input,” tap “+,” and click “Save.” Now, the shortcut is ready to use.
- Open the “Files” app and select the files you wish to compress.
- Choose the files, tap on the three-dot button from the bottom right corner, and select the “Compress” option.
The method to compress the files via shortcut is lengthy and complicated. You can convert the files into zip format directly from the native Files app on your iPhone.
How To Open a Zip a File on iPhone
Have you ever received a ZIP file and struggled opening it? Not anymore! Here are the steps to follow to open a zip file on iPhone:
- Go to the “Files” app, where the zip file is stored.
- Select the zip or archive file you wish to extract from and tap on it. Select “Open in Files” from the pop-up.
- A folder with all the content and files of the zip will be created. You can tap and hold the folder to rename it.
Summary
Compressing the files to convert them into a ZIP format has never been easier as it is now with the iOS version 13 and above. You can directly zip photos, videos, and other data files with the native Files app on your iPhone device. Although you can also create a shortcut to zip the files, the method is a bit complicated to execute for some people. We hope you’re now well-versed with all the knowledge you need to zip and unzip the files on your iPhone. Have any related queries? Comment down below.
