Create ZIP Files and Password-Protect Them Using Windows Compressed Folders or WinZip

Description: Create ZIP files and password-protect them using Windows compressed folders or WinZip with the steps below.

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To Zip files using Windows Compressed Folders:

1. Find and highlight the file(s) and/or folder(s) you want to compress.
2. Right-click on the file(s) and/or folder(s) to display the menu.
   • You can hold CTRL and click on several files if more than one is needed.
     
3. Select Send To.
4. Select Compressed (zipped) folder. The Zip file is created.
   
   Note: 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:

1. Find and highlight the file(s) and/or folder(s) you want to compress.
2. Right-click on the file(s) and/or folder(s) to display the menu.
   • You can hold CTRL and click on several files if more than one is needed.
3. Select WinZip.
4. 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.
5. The Zip file is created.

To Password Protect a WinZip Archive:

1. Find and right-click on the Zip file you want to password protect.
2. Select WinZip.
3. In the WinZip submenu that displays, select 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.