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The WinZip Quick Start Guide

This Guide is intended for WinZip 16.x. If you have a later version, please go to this page.

This Guide introduces some file compression terms, describes some of the initial steps in installing WinZip®, and provides a first look at using some WinZip features. For additional information, see the tutorial that come with WinZip, the WinZip Help, and the WinZip web site.

What is an Archive or Zip File?

Zip files (.zip or .zipx) are "archives" (also sometimes referred to as "WinZip files" in the Help and in WinZip) used for storing and distributing files, and can contain one or more files. Usually the files "archived" in a Zip file are compressed to save space. Zip files are often used to:

  • Distribute files on the Internet: Only one Zip file transfer operation (download) is required to obtain all related files, and file transfer is quicker because the archived files are compressed.
  • Send a group of related files to an associate: When you distribute the collection of files as an archive, you benefit from the file grouping and compression as well.
  • Save disk space: If you have large files that are important but seldom used, such as large data files, simply compress these files into an archive and then unzip (or "extract") them only when needed.

What Does WinZip Do?

WinZip makes it easy for Windows users to work with archives. WinZip features an intuitive point-and-click drag-and-drop interface for viewing, running, extracting, adding, and deleting files in archives with a standard Windows interface.

Using the WinZip Ribbon

Here is a brief introduction to some of the features of the WinZip Ribbon interface.

Quick Unzipping with the WinZip Ribbon

  1. In the WinZip window, click the Unzip button on the Home tab of the WinZip Ribbon. If a WinZip file is not already open in WinZip, the Open WinZip File window will appear; otherwise, the Unzip window (go to step 3) will appear.
  2. In the Open WinZip File window, locate the archive you want to unzip, then click Open. The Unzip window will now appear.
  3. In the Unzip window, choose the folder where you want to place the extracted files and click Unzip.

That's it! You have extracted the contents of the archive to the chosen folder. You can now work with the extracted files, select another activity within WinZip, or close the WinZip window.

Note: You can also extract files from an archive in the WinZip main window by dragging them to the desktop or to the desired folder in Windows Explorer.

Quick Zipping with the WinZip Ribbon

  1. In the WinZip window, click the Zip toolbar button. The Zip window will appear.
  2. In the Zip window, select the files that you want to add to your new archive and click Zip. The New WinZip File window will appear if a Zip file is not already open; if a Zip file is already open, you're done!
  3. In the New WinZip File window, specify the location where you want to create the archive and type the name you want to use for your new Zip file, then click Create.

That's it!  You have created a new Zip file or added files to your existing Zip file! You can now examine the contents of your new archive, select another activity within WinZip, or close the WinZip window.

Note: You can also add files to a Zip file by dragging the files from My Computer or Windows Explorer and dropping them on the WinZip window.

Using the WinZip Legacy Toolbar

Here is a brief introduction to some of the features of WinZip Legacy Toolbar interface.

Quick Unzipping with the WinZip Legacy Toolbar

  1. In the WinZip window, click the Open toolbar button or choose Open Archive from the File menu. The Open Archive dialog will appear.
  2. In the Open Archive dialog, locate the archive you want to unzip, then click Open. The contents of the archive will be displayed in the WinZip window.
  3. To extract files from the archive, click the Extract toolbar button or choose Extract from the Actions menu. The Extract dialog will appear.
  4. In the box labeled Extract to, choose the folder where you want to place the extracted files and click Extract.

That's it!  You have extracted the contents of the archive to the chosen folder. You can now work with the extracted files, select another activity within WinZip, or close the WinZip window.

Note: You can also extract files from an archive in the WinZip window by dragging them to the desktop or to the desired folder in Windows Explorer.

Quick Zipping with the WinZip Legacy Toolbar

  1. In the WinZip window, click the New toolbar button or choose New Archive from the File menu. The New Archive dialog will appear.
  2. In the New Archive dialog, specify the location where you want to create the archive and type the name you want to use for your new archive, then click OK. The Add dialog will appear.
  3. In the Add dialog, select the files that you want to add to your new archive and click Add.

That's it!  You have created a new archive. You can now examine the contents of your new archive, select another activity within WinZip, or close the WinZip window.

Note: You can also add files to an archive by dragging the files from My Computer or Windows Explorer and dropping them on the WinZip window.

WinZip Tips

  • You can view the contents of most documents in an archive (such as Microsoft Word documents and Excel spreadsheets) by just double-clicking them in the WinZip main window.
  • You can extract files from an archive in the WinZip main window by dragging them to the desired folder in Windows Explorer or to the desktop.
  • Using WinZip's Help menu, you can:
    • work with the Brief Tutorial to get acquainted with more of WinZip's features
    • view collections of Hints and Tips
    • find answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Zip and Unzip Files without Leaving Windows Explorer

Using WinZip's tight integration with Windows Explorer's shell extension, you can access most of WinZip's functionality directly from My Computer, Windows Explorer, or the desktop. Here is how to zip and unzip files directly from Windows Explorer; be sure to see the WinZip help for more things you can do, including Zip and E-Mail.

To create an archive: select the file(s) you want to zip in Windows Explorer, right click on the file, choose WinZip, and then click Add to Zip file from the submenu menu that appears.

To extract files from an archive: select the archive in Windows Explorer, and either:

  • right click and choose Extract to from the WinZip menu, or
  • right click and drag the archive onto the folder where you want it extracted, and then choose an extract option from the WinZip menu.

Contacting Technical Support

The best way to ask questions or report problems is to send a message to the e-mail address shown on the WinZip web site's contact page.