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How to Zip and Unzip Files on iPhone and iPad

Use Files to compress one item or several into a ZIP, extract an archive into a folder, and share the ZIP from your iPhone or iPad.
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Use the built-in Files app to create or open ZIP archives on an iPhone or iPad. To zip one item, touch and hold it, then tap Compress. To unzip an archive, tap it to create a folder of its contents, or touch and hold it and choose Uncompress. The exact menu layout can vary by device and iOS or iPadOS version.

Zip one file or folder

  1. Open Files and browse to the file or folder you want to compress.
  2. Touch and hold the item until its contextual menu appears.
  3. Tap Compress.

Files saves the ZIP in the same folder as the original item. When you compress one item, the ZIP uses that item’s name. Apple documents this method in its Files organizing guide and ZIP instructions for iPhone and iPad.

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Zip several files or folders together

  1. In Files, open the folder containing the items you want to bundle. It may be in On My iPhone, On My iPad, or iCloud Drive.
  2. Choose Select. On iPhone, this may be under the More menu; Apple’s iPad instructions describe tapping Select.
  3. Tap each item to include it, then tap the More button and choose Compress.

Files creates Archive.zip in the same folder. To give it a more descriptive name, touch and hold the ZIP, tap Rename, enter the new name, and confirm. The location and default name are described in Apple’s ZIP instructions. Menu placement can differ between iPhone, iPad, and system versions, so use the labels shown on your device.

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Unzip an archive

In Files, locate the ZIP and either tap it or use its contextual menu:

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  • Tap the ZIP: Files creates a folder containing the archive’s contents. Open the folder to access them.
  • Use the menu: Touch and hold the compressed item, then tap Uncompress.

If you want to change the extracted folder’s name, touch and hold that folder, choose Rename, and enter the name you want. Apple documents the contextual action in its Files organizing guide and the tap-to-extract behavior in its ZIP instructions.

Share a ZIP from Files

  1. To make a ZIP first, compress the file or files using the steps above.
  2. In Files, touch and hold the ZIP and tap Share.
  3. Choose a sending option, such as AirDrop, Messages, or Mail, and follow the onscreen prompts.

Apple describes sharing from Files in its file-sharing instructions. Compressing does not guarantee that every file will become smaller; the amount of size reduction depends on the file contents.

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  • EXPANDED PRECISION FINDING ON IPHONE AND APPLE WATCH — Get step-by-step directions to your lost item on iPhone and, now, Apple Watch.*
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  • PING FROM FAR AND WIDE — Upgraded Ultra Wideband and Bluetooth chips allow you to find your items from even farther away than ever before.*
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