When you "zip" a file, you'll compress its data and reduce how much space it takes up on your computer or phone. Nearly all devices have built-in tools that let you zip (and later unzip) files.

In this article, we explain how to zip and unzip files in the five most popular operating systems: macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and ChromeOS.

But once you've received a ZIP file, in order to see or use any of its files, you'll need to "unzip" it. Luckily, since ZIP files are so common, they're incredibly easy to unzip.

The best part? There's no need to download any third-party apps for this. You can create and extract zip files with ease using the Files by Google app on your Android phone or tablet. Let's see how.

Head to a location containing files you want to zip, like On My iPhone, iCloud Drive, or third-party services connected to the Files app. Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner and choose ...

Tick the "Delete ZIP file" checkbox if you no longer need the original zip file. Then, hit Done. Once the file is extracted, you can open it to view its content or share it with others.

Aside from the ZIP format, your top Chromebook supports 7ZIP, RAR, and TAR. How to zip files on a Chromebook You can use the default Files app on ChromeOS to zip files. Follow the steps below.

This will create the new zip file in the current working directory. To unzip a compressed file, right-click it and select Extract Here (Figure 3). Figure 3: Unzipping a file the GUI way in Linux.

Head to a location containing files you want to zip, like On My iPhone, iCloud Drive, or third-party services connected to the Files app. Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner and choose ...