Windows 11 now makes zipping files straightforward for anyone — from the casual user who needs a quick .zip for an email attachment to the power user moving terabytes — but the fastest, most reliable workflows combine the right format, the right tool, and a few system-level optimizations that save minutes or hours on big jobs. The ZDNET-style walkthrough you supplied lays out the simple built‑in steps and then walks into the expert techniques (7‑Zip, split archives, Robocopy) that actually save time on real transfers; this article summarizes those recommendations, verifies the key technical claims, and expands them into a practical, step‑by‑step “zip like a pro” playbook you can follow on Windows 11 today.
Background / Overview
Windows has supported ZIP archives natively for decades via File Explorer’s Send to → Compressed (zipped) folder flow, but recent Windows 11 updates broadened the OS’s archive capabilities and improved the File Explorer context menu. Microsoft’s support documentation now confirms that Windows 11, version 24H2, recognizes and can create/extract several common formats — including ZIP, RAR, 7z and TAR — while still
not offering native creation of encrypted archives. For password‑protected or AES‑encrypted archives you’ll still need a third‑party tool such as 7‑Zip or WinRAR. This matters because the “fastest” method often depends on the balance between convenience and capability:
- Built‑in ZIPs are immediate and universally compatible.
- Third‑party tools (7‑Zip, WinRAR, Bandizip, PeaZip) give better compression ratios, AES encryption, and split‑archive options.
- For huge moves, compress‑then‑copy workflows and tuned copying tools (Robocopy with /MT) usually outperform naively copying many small files.
How to zip files in Windows 11 — the quick built‑in way
For a fast, no‑install approach, Windows’ native ZIP flow remains the easiest and most compatible method.
Steps (built‑in File Explorer)
- Select the files and/or folders in File Explorer.
- Right‑click the selection → Show more options → Send to → Compressed (zipped) folder.
- Rename the resulting .zip file if you want.
This basic flow is extremely quick for small jobs and ensures recipients on Windows will have no trouble opening the archive. Microsoft documents this simple process, which remains the default recommendation for casual use.
What the built‑in method does and doesn’t do
- It uses the ZIP/Deflate method (good compatibility, moderate compression).
- It’s convenient and requires no external software.
- It lacks advanced compression tuning, AES‑256 encryption for archive creation, and multi‑threaded compression controls. For those features you need third‑party tools.
The expert way to zip (and save time): choose the right tool and workflow
For anything beyond a one‑off email attachment, using a purpose‑built archiver and pairing it with a tuned copy strategy will save time and reduce headaches.
7‑Zip — best balance of size, speed, and security
7‑Zip remains the go‑to free option for power users. The official 7‑Zip documentation shows the product supports the 7z format (LZMA/LZMA2), multi‑threading, and
AES‑256 encryption for both .7z and .zip containers — all essential for secure, high‑compression archives. Use 7‑Zip when you need smaller archives or password protection. Recommended settings for distribution and performance:
- Format: 7z for best compression; use zip if you need maximum compatibility.
- Compression level: Ultra/Maximum when size matters; otherwise Balanced or Normal for faster creation.
- Compression method: LZMA2 (better multi‑core scaling than LZMA).
- Enable encryption: AES‑256 (enter a strong password).
- For very large jobs, consider solid compression (best ratios) but note it increases extraction time for individual small files.
Tip: Right‑click → Show more options → 7‑Zip → Add to archive to access the full dialog and these options.
When to use Zip vs 7z vs RAR vs TAR
- ZIP: Best for broad compatibility (emails, Windows recipients). Fast decompression on most systems.
- 7z: Best compression ratio and AES‑256 security — ideal for backups and archiving.
- RAR: Fast and robust but creation requires WinRAR (proprietary).
- TAR/GZ/XZ: Useful for cross‑platform (Linux/macOS) workflows or when downstream tools expect these formats. Choose based on target users.
Split archives: sending huge files across limits
If you must respect attachment or file‑share limits, split archives avoid re‑uploading massive single files.
- 7‑Zip: In Add to archive → “Split to volumes, bytes”, set a size such as 100M, 700M, or 2G to create multi‑part archives (.001/.002 or .7z.001 etc..
- WinRAR: Equivalent split options available in the archive dialog.
Recipients reassemble simply by opening the first part in the same tool and extracting. This method is standard and widely supported.
For massive transfers: compress locally, then copy the archive (Robocopy tip)
When moving thousands of small files or terabytes of data across drives or networks, the I/O overhead of copying many individual files can dominate transfer time. Create a single archive locally (preferably on a fast drive), then transfer that single file.
Why this helps:
- Reduces metadata operations (fewer file open/close events).
- Creates a single stream that maximizes throughput on modern storage and links.
- Decreases the chance of partial transfer states across flaky networks.
Robocopy is Microsoft’s robust command‑line copier and offers multi‑threaded copying with the /MT option. Microsoft’s Robocopy documentation documents that /MT defaults to
8 threads when used without a number and accepts 1–128 threads; community guidance commonly starts testing at /MT:8 or /MT:16 and adjusts for hardware and network conditions. Use /Z for restartable copies and /LOG to record progress. Example Robocopy command to transfer a created archive:
- Open an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell.
- Run:
robocopy "C:\SourceFolder" "D:\DestinationFolder" Archive.7z /Z /MT:16 /LOG:copy.log
Notes:
- /MT:16 often speeds transfers on modern NVMe SSDs and multi‑core CPUs.
- Excessive thread counts can actually slow transfers on older HDDs or saturated networks — measure and tune.
- /MT is incompatible with certain Robocopy flags (like /IPG and /EFSRAW).
Hardware and system tweaks that actually save time
Compression is one piece of the puzzle. These system and hardware checks often produce larger gains than tweaking compression options:
- Use SSDs (NVMe) for source/destination when possible — modern NVMe drives offer multiple GB/s throughput and dramatically reduce job times versus spinning HDDs.
- Ensure external connections are connected to USB 3.x or Thunderbolt ports; plugging a USB 3.x drive into a USB 2.0 port will throttle you to USB 2.0 speeds.
- Use NTFS for destination drives to avoid FAT32’s 4 GB file‑size limit; convert via convert X: /fs:ntfs if needed (back up first).
- Pause cloud sync (OneDrive, Dropbox) while performing large local moves — sync clients create extra I/O.
- Temporarily stop real‑time antivirus only for trusted operations; re‑enable immediately afterward. Real‑time scanning can significantly slow mass copies.
A practical “zip like a pro” checklist (step‑by‑step)
Follow this ordered checklist for common power‑user goals.
Goal: Fast single archive for cross‑platform sharing
- Choose format: ZIP for compatibility.
- Select files → 7‑Zip → Add to archive → Format: zip → Compression level: Normal or Maximum.
- Create archive on a fast local SSD.
- If sending via email, split archive to 25 MB parts if needed.
Goal: Small encrypted backup
- Use 7‑Zip.
- Format: 7z, Compression method: LZMA2, Compression level: Ultra.
- Set password and AES‑256 encryption.
- Verify archive integrity (test extract) before relying on it.
Goal: Move thousands of small files between drives
- Create a single archive (7‑Zip) on the source SSD.
- Transfer the archive with Robocopy: robocopy "C:\Temp" "D:\Backup" Archive.7z /Z /MT:16 /LOG:robocopy.log.
- Extract on the destination if necessary.
Security, privacy, and caveats
- Windows’ built‑in ZIP cannot create encrypted archives — if security matters, use 7‑Zip or WinRAR with AES‑256. Always use a strong password and store it separately.
- Avoid web‑based compressors for sensitive files — uploading to a third‑party server introduces privacy risk unless the service explicitly promises end‑to‑end deletion and you trust their policy. Local compression with 7‑Zip remains the safer default.
- Benchmarks vary. Community timing numbers for compression and extraction (seconds vs minutes) depend heavily on the dataset, CPU cores, RAM, storage device class, and chosen options. Treat published times as indicative rather than definitive and run small tests on your machine before committing to a large run.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Mistake: Using ZIP for very large archives on FAT32.
Fix: Format or convert to NTFS (NTFS supports large files).
- Mistake: Expecting further compression of already compressed media (MP4, JPG).
Fix: Don’t compress these files unless bundling them is the goal; compression gains will be minimal.
- Mistake: Setting /MT too high on HDDs and causing thrashing.
Fix: Start at /MT:8 or /MT:16 and monitor disk activity and CPU; reduce threads if I/O waits grow.
- Mistake: Relying on a single test run for production migration.
Fix: Do a dry run, use checksums or trial extractions, and keep logs (/LOG) to validate outcomes.
Quick reference: commands and settings to copy/paste
- Create a simple ZIP with built‑in File Explorer: Right‑click → Show more options → Send to → Compressed (zipped) folder.
- 7‑Zip GUI: Right‑click → Show more options → 7‑Zip → Add to archive → Choose Format: 7z/zip, Method: LZMA2, Level: Ultra/Normal, Encryption: AES‑256.
- Robocopy example for an archive transfer:
- robocopy "C:\Source" "D:\Destination" Archive.7z /Z /MT:16 /LOG:copy.log
- Adjust /MT to your environment (1–128).
Critical analysis — strengths, weaknesses and risks
Strengths of Windows 11’s native approach
- Convenience: No installations required for basic zipping and extraction, suitable for casual users and quick sharing.
- Integration: File Explorer improvements reduce friction for everyday tasks. These changes are useful for users who need occasional compression without third‑party tools.
Where native tools fall short
- No encrypted archive creation: This is the single biggest functional gap — for AES‑encrypted archives, rely on 7‑Zip or WinRAR.
- Limited advanced performance options: Built‑in ZIP offers little control over methods, threading, or splitting. For large or security‑sensitive jobs, a third‑party archiver is required.
Operational risks and mitigation
- Disabling antivirus for speed: Temporarily turning off real‑time protection can accelerate disk I/O but increases exposure. If used, limit it to trusted operations, perform them offline, and re‑enable immediately.
- Over‑threading Robocopy: Setting /MT excessively high on older drives can increase seek times and degrade performance. Always test /MT values and monitor CPU/disk metrics.
Verification notes
- Microsoft’s documentation confirms Windows 11, version 24H2 supports multiple archive formats but not encrypted archive creation; that is authoritative and directly relevant to the claim that third‑party tools remain necessary for encryption.
- 7‑Zip’s official pages document LZMA/LZMA2 compression and AES‑256 encryption, supporting recommendations to use 7‑Zip for size and security-sensitive workflows.
- Robocopy’s /MT behavior and practical tuning guidance are documented by Microsoft Learn and reinforced by independent community testing; start at /MT:8 or /MT:16 and tune to your hardware.
Caveat: community benchmark figures quoted in walkthroughs are useful for orientation but vary widely by hardware and settings; test on your own system before committing to large migrations.
Final recommendations — a tidy rule set for choosing the fastest workflow
- Quick and compatible: Use Windows File Explorer ZIP. Good for small attachments and one‑off sharing.
- Best compression + encryption: Use 7‑Zip with 7z/LZMA2 + AES‑256. Great for backups and secure archives.
- Large transfers: Create an archive locally, then transfer the single file with Robocopy tuned with /MT and /Z. Test thread counts against your storage and network.
- Sensitive files: Avoid web compressors; compress locally and use encryption.
Compressing files in Windows 11 is now both easier and more capable than before: the built‑in flow handles the everyday cases, while proven third‑party tools and tuned copy workflows give power users the control and time savings they need for large, secure, or frequent archive work. The ZDNET walkthrough you provided captures this progression — from the simple “Send to → Compressed (zipped) folder” to the pro workflows combining 7‑Zip and Robocopy — and the verifiable technical claims (Windows 11 24H2 format support, 7‑Zip AES‑256, Robocopy /MT defaults) are confirmed in Microsoft and vendor documentation. Use the checklists and steps above to match the method to your goal, test settings on a small sample, and you’ll reliably save time on both everyday and large‑scale archiving tasks.
Source: ZDNET
How to zip files in Windows 11 (and the expert way to do it to save time)