Folder to ZIP

How Folder to ZIP compression works

Folder to ZIP builds a standard .zip archive from the files you select — including subfolders when you keep structure enabled. Everything happens locally in your browser, so no uploads are required.

When you choose a folder, the browser grants access to the files inside that folder and the tool streams them into a ZIP archive on your device. For huge folders, your browser may run out of memory or take longer to finish.

When to use this tool

Use Folder to ZIP when you want to keep a group of files together in one tidy package:

• Send a project: bundle a folder before emailing or uploading to a drive.
• Back up photos: archive a photo folder into a single ZIP.
• Share coursework: package notes/handouts/assignments into one download.
• Preserve structure: keep subfolders so recipients see the same organization.

Need to reverse compression? Try our Unzip archive tool, if you need to compress in bulk, our ZIP multiple files tool can help you zip multiple files without a folder.

Step-by-step: from folder to ZIP

Compressing your folder takes just a few steps:

• Pick your folder. Click the tool area and choose a folder, or drag and drop a folder from your desktop into the box.
• Review what’s included. Each folder appears in the list with its name, file count and total size so you can see what will be zipped.
• Choose your settings. Adjust the compression level and decide whether to keep subfolders and paths or flatten everything into one level.
• Compress to ZIP. Click Compress to ZIP. Your browser compresses each folder on your device without uploading the contents.
• Save your ZIP files. Save ZIPs one by one, or use Save all ZIP files to download every completed archive in a few clicks.

Privacy, limits and how this tool treats your files

FileYoga is built around a simple rule: your files stay with you. Folder to ZIP follows that rule closely.

Key limitations: folder picking is most reliable in Chromium browsers, very large folders can hit memory/performance limits, and this tool does not add password encryption to ZIP files.

Tips for best results

• For very large folders, start with a lower compression level to reduce memory pressure.
• Keep “Keep subfolders and paths” on when you want the ZIP to mirror your original structure.
• If the ZIP will be shared, avoid extremely long file paths and unusual characters in file names.
• Make sure your device has enough free space for the resulting ZIP file.
• On shared devices, clear the list before you walk away.

Troubleshooting

• I can’t select a folder: try Chrome, Edge, Brave, or Opera. Some browsers limit folder picking.
• The ZIP takes forever or the tab freezes: the folder may be huge or contains many tiny files. Try a lower compression level or compress in smaller batches.
• Some files are missing: the browser may not have permission to read them, or they may be locked/in use. Try closing apps using those files and re-select the folder.
• The downloaded ZIP won’t open: re-run compression and ensure the download completed. If the folder was extremely large, try smaller batches.
• Need to extract the ZIP you created: use ZIP Extractor.

Frequently asked questions