How-To

How to Create and Extract Zip Files on iPhone Using the Files App

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You can very easily create and extract Zip files on your iPhone and iPad using the Files app. Here’s how to do it in a few steps.

It wasn’t that long ago when it was nearly impossible to create and extract zip files on your iPhone or iPad. Not anymore, thanks to the iCloud and the Files app. In this article, you’ll learn how to use zip files on your mobile device with ease.

What are Zip Files?

Zip files, or ZIP, is an archive file form that supports lossless data compression. It typically contains one or more files or directories that you can compress for easier storage and sharing. Both Microsoft with Windows and Apple with macOS has offered built-in support for ZIP for many years. The ability to create, ZIP, and extract these files on mobile devices hasn’t also been nearly as simple until now. On iOS and iPadOS, this must be performed using the Files app, which has been available on iPhone and iPad, respectively, since iOS 11 launched in 2017.

Create and Extract Zip Files on iPhone and iPad

To use ZIP files on your mobile device, make sure you’re using the latest version of iOS. From there, there are slight differences between iPhone/iPod touch and the iPad.

iPhone

To create Zip files on your iPhone or iPod touch:

  1. Open the Files app, then choose a location like On My iPhone or iCloud Drive.
  2. Tap the More button at the top right.
  3. Choose Select.
  4. Choose the file(s) and folders you wish to compress.

Create and Extract Zip Files on iPhone - Compress

Next:

  1. Tap the More button at the bottom right.
  2. Select Compress.

Create and Extract Zip Files on iPhone Create Zip file

As Apple explains, if you selected a single file, a ZIP file with the same filename saves to that folder. If you selected multiple files, a ZIP archive named Archive.zip saves to that folder. To change its name, touch and hold on to the ZIP archive, then select Rename. You can share your ZIP file just as you can any file using the iPhone Share Sheet.

To open a Zip file on your iPhone or iPod touch:

  1. Open the Files app.
  2. Find the Zip file you want to uncompress.
  3. Tap the file.

iPhone extracting files

From there, a folder gets created containing the files. To change its name, touch and hold on to the folder, then tap Rename. Tap to open the folder. The compressed file remains in the same location. To Delete, hard press on the file, then choose Delete.

iPad

To create Zip files on your iPad:

  1. Open the Files app, then choose a location like On My iPhone or iCloud Drive.
  2. Tap the Select button at the top right.
  3. Choose the file(s) and folders you wish to compress.

iPad select files to compress

Next:

  1. Tap on the More button at the bottom right.
  2. Select Compress.

Compress files on iPad

Again, if you selected a single file, a ZIP file with the same filename saves to that folder. If you selected multiple files, a ZIP archive named Archive.zip saves to that folder. To change its name, touch and hold on to the ZIP archive, then select Rename. You can share your ZIP file just as you can any file using the iPad Share Sheet.

To open a Zip file on your iPad:

  1. Open the Files app.
  2. Find the Zip file you want to uncompress.
  3. Tap the file.

iPad unzip files

A folder gets created containing the files. To change its name, touch and hold on to the folder, then tap Rename. Tap to open the folder. The compressed file remains in the same location. To Delete, hard press on the file, then choose Delete.

Create and Extract Zip Files on iPhone: Final Thoughts

You can currently uncompress the following Zip file formats in the Files app: .ar, .bz2, .cpio, .rar, .tar, .tgz, or .zip files in the Files app. If your file is too large to send as a regular attachment, Apple recommending trying Mail Drop.

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