Description: Create ZIP files and password-protect them using Windows compressed folders or WinZip with the steps below.
To Zip files using Windows Compressed Folders:
- Right-click on a file to pull up the options menu.
- You can hold CTRL and click on several files if more than one is needed.
- Select Send To.
- Select Compressed (zipped) folder.
- The Zip file is created.
Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 do not provide any features for password-protecting files or folders. You will need a third-party application such as WinZip or 7-Zip to apply a password to the compressed folder.
To Zip files using WinZip:
- Open a folder window.
- Find and highlight (select) the files and/or folders you would like to zip.
- Right-click in the highlighted area.
- In the WinZip submenu of the context menu that displays, choose either:
- Add/Move to Zip file: (quick) To specify your own Zip file name, compression type, encryption, and/or choose conversion options.
- Add to [filename].zip(x): (quicker) Create a Zip file using the default compression method with a name as displayed in the menu; you cannot specify other options with this method.
- The Zip file is created.
To Password Protect a WinZip Archive:
- Right-click on the Zip file you wish to password protect.
- Choose WinZip.
- Click Encrypt.
- WinZip will ask for a password and then encrypt all files currently in the Zip file. Depending on your method, you may or may not have the option to change the encryption strength.
- If a file in the Zip file is already encrypted, it will first be decrypted and then re-encrypted using the password and encryption method you specified.
