Make a ZIP file

How it works

1. Drop the files. Anything goes in: documents, photos, spreadsheets, code.
2. Type a name for the archive if you want one. Left empty it is called files.zip.
3. Choose how hard to squeeze. Normal suits documents and code. None is right when the files are photos, PDFs or videos, which are already compressed and only take longer to pack; Smallest is worth the wait for large text, CSV or code.
4. To lock the ZIP, choose a protection and type a password, or press Generate. Standard opens anywhere; AES-256 is stronger but needs 7-Zip or similar.
5. Press Make ZIP and download the archive.

Frequently asked questions

Are my files uploaded to make the ZIP?

No. The archive is assembled in your browser by fflate, a small open-source zip library, and handed straight back to you. That matters here more than for most tools: a ZIP is usually the thing you were about to email or hand over, so it is exactly the moment not to hand a copy to a server as well.

How small will it get?

It depends entirely on what is inside. Text, CSV, JSON and code often shrink to a fifth or less. JPG and PNG photos, PDFs, MP3s and MP4s are already compressed and will not shrink at all, so for those choose None: the file is the same size either way and it is packed in a fraction of the time.

Can I password-protect the ZIP?

Yes. Choose a protection and type a password, or press Generate for a strong one. Standard is the classic ZIP encryption: Windows opens it with no extra software, as does nearly every unzip app, but it is an old scheme that cracking tools can break, so it keeps out the curious rather than the determined. AES-256 is strong, but the recipient needs 7-Zip, WinRAR, Bandizip or a similar program, because Windows cannot open it by itself. Either way, send the password by a different route from the file: a password in the next email protects almost nothing.

Does it keep folders?

Folder names are kept when a file carries one, and dropping a folder onto the page adds the files inside it. Two files with the same name both survive: the second is numbered rather than overwriting the first.

Will names in Japanese, Korean or accented letters survive?

Yes. Names are written as UTF-8 and flagged as such, which is what current Windows, macOS, iOS and Android all read correctly. Only a very old unzip program that ignores that flag will garble them.

Is there a size limit?

The free plan allows 20 files per run at 20 MB each and 10 runs per day; Pro removes those limits. Beyond that, the ceiling is your browser's memory, since the whole archive is built there: several hundred MB is fine on a desktop, less on a phone.