How to Compress and Extract Files on Android Using ZArchiver

Android devices don't always let you open every type of file you download or receive in email. The same goes for compressing a file or a group of files. Depending on the file type, this can be a major inconvenience. Some file managers let you compress or decompress files, but what happens if there's a rar or 7z file you need to open? ZArchiver lets you compress and extract files on Android, even if your file manager doesn't. In this guide, we'll learn how to compress and extract files on Android using ZArchiver.

Compress a file on Android

The process of creating a compressed folder is actually very easy. Install and open ZArchiver, then follow the steps below.

Create an archive

1. Give ZArchiver Access to manage all files. This is necessary to compress files on your device.

2. Navigate to the folder you want to create an archive or compressed copy of. The main folders are displayed by default. You'll need to navigate to the subfolders before creating an archive.
3. Click the menu in the upper-right corner of the window, which lists all the settings for creating compressed folders on Android. You can also click the icon "+" Green in the bottom right and select the option "archiving".

4. Click "construction" To choose to create a new folder or archive.
5. You will then be given the opportunity to choose a compression format. To create a new compressed archive, select "archiving". If you want to create a new folder to compress later, select New Volume Go to a section “Compress new folder” below.

6. Specify your settings. Like many desktop applications, you can choose your archive settings: add a password, choose a compression level, or choose to split the archive into multiple volumes.

7. You can add files more easily if you're already in the correct folder or subfolder. You can create a new folder and move all files into it if necessary. Tap files to highlight them and tap the green check mark at the bottom to add them to the archive.

8. Wait while the archiver compresses your files. The compression level depends on the compression type you choose and the types of files you are compressing.

Compress new folder

If you are creating a new folder from a list "construction" You will need to move or copy the files you want to compress. Follow the steps below:

1. Navigate to the files you want to compress. This can also be entire folders.
2. Long press on the folder or file and select either "He told" Or "copies". if you choose "He told" This will delete the file from the original location.

3. Navigate to your new folder and open it, then tap green clipboard icon At the bottom right. Repeat this process to add more files/folders.

4. Back out of the new folder once you have added all the files you want.
5. Long press on the folder and select “Compress to * .zip” Or "press to * .7z” Or "pressure". The last option gives you the same compression setup options as the Create Archive section above. You can also compress any existing folder in the same way.

Extract files on Android

The decompression process is quite simple when you want to extract files on Android. When a file is sent to you via email or otherwise downloaded to your Android device, you have a few different options. The first option is to view the contents of the compressed archive.

1. Open ZArchiver And use files manager To find the archive.
2. Click on the archive to appear with some options, one of which will be: "an offer". You will see the folders and files in the compressed archive.

3. Extract a single file by navigating to it while using the option "an offer".
4. Click on the file and select Extraction Then select the location you want and press the green extract button at the bottom right.

5. If you want to extract all files in the archive, there are other options. You can choose Extract here , which will empty the contents into the home folder. You can select “Extract to ./<archive name>/” To create a new folder and extract all files into it. Finally, you can select Extraction And choose a location.

6. Click the green extract button at the bottom right after selecting the desired location.
Tip: Don't remember where you saved your files? Find out. How to find downloaded files on your phone iPhone Your.

Supported file types

This list shows all the compatible file types you can compress, view, and decompress. If you notice, there are many files that are not commonly accessible on an Android device.

• Create an archive: 7z (7zip), zip, bzip2 (bz2), gzip (gz), XZ, lz4, tar, zst (zstd)
• Types of decompression archives: 7z (7zip), zip, rar, rar5, bzip2, gzip, XZ, iso, tar, arj, cab, lzh, lha, lzma, xar, tgz, tbz, Z, deb, rpm, zipx, mtz, chm, dmg, cpio, cramfs, img (fat, ntfs, ubf), wim, ecm, lzip, zst (zstd), egg, alz
• Show contents: 7z (7zip), zip, rar, rar5, bzip2, gzip, XZ, iso, tar, arj, cab, lzh, lha, lzma, xar, tgz, tbz, Z, deb, rpm, zipx, mtz, chm, dmg, cpio, cramfs, img (fat, ntfs, ubf), wim, ecm, lzip, zst (zstd), egg, alz

Are there other options?

Although ZArchiver is one of the best file extraction apps for Android, it's not the only option. It's popular primarily because of the wide range of file formats it supports.

Some file managers allow you to extract compressed files. For example, Google Files supports extracting ZIP files. However, most file managers only support extraction rather than compression. Some apps don't support video content. Use this guide Learn how to send video content on Android. For larger videos.

However, if you're looking for something different or the file type you want isn't supported, try one of the following options:

RAR

The RAR Create RAR and ZIP files. It can extract RAR, 7z, ZIP, ARJ, TAR, ISO, BZ2, GZ, and XZ files. There's even a repair function for corrupted RAR and ZIP files. Create encrypted and password-protected files for more secure file transfer, too.

1. Select your folders from the list.
2. click on the button “archive” above.

3. Select your compression options. Press "advanced" For more options.

The compressed file is located in the same root directory as the original folder unless you choose a different location.

1. If you want to extract files, select the compressed file from the list.
2. click on the button Extraction above.

3. Select your settings and click on "OK".

B1 Filer

Works B1 Filer With more file formats (37 for extraction / 2 for compression) than RAR and offers a host of additional features, such as multi-part extraction, non-Latin symbols in file names, password protection, file management, and even hiding files from media scans.

1. To compress files, long press and select "pressure" Or click the button Create an archive At the top. You'll need to select your files/folders if you choose the second method.

2. Select whether you want to compress to B1 or ZIP format, along with the file name.

Your file is stored in the same directory as the original file(s).

1. To extract files, long press on the file and select Extraction

2. Choose where to extract the file and you're done.

7Zipper

Does not support 7Zipper Many files are like ZArchiver, but it's easy to use. You can compress to ZIP, 7z, and JAR files. You can also extract ZIP, EGG, TAR, TAR.GZ, ALZ, TAR.BZ2, RAR, JAR, BZ2, LZH, and 7Z. Basic file management and split ZIP archives are also included.

1. To compress files, long press on the folder. You can select multiple files. Select Create a zip file.

2. Select your options. Use the drop-down box in the top right to choose between ZIP, 7Z, and JAR.

3. Click "OK" To press.

Your file is stored in the same home directory by default.

1. To extract files, long-click on the file you want to extract and select Extract zip file. The option will change depending on the file format.

2. Select your options and click on "OK".

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is there a difference between creating an archive and compressing an existing folder/file?
Not true. Both allow you to compress files/folders using settings of your choice. The main difference is that if you long-press on an existing folder, you'll only be able to compress that specific folder.

using option “Create -> New Archive” You can select multiple folders to compress into a single archive. For example, if you have dozens of folders in a directory and want to compress five of them into a single archive, you have the option to select multiple folders.

In short, creating a new archive gives you more flexibility in terms of what you can add. However, all folders/files must be in the same directory. You can navigate to subfolders during the selection process.

Q2. Why are files deleted when I create a zip file?
There is a checkbox to automatically delete source files after compression. By default, this should not be checked. When creating a new archive, select the option "pressure" Make sure the check box that says “Delete source files after compression.”

You can also turn this off generally by doing the following:

1. Open the menu at the top right.
2. Locate "Settings".
3. Choose "general".
4. turn off Delete after pressing.

Q3. Why aren't my compressed files/folders smaller?
The default compression option is "normal". The percentage of file compression varies greatly depending on the file type. Documents and books will compress much more than videos, photos, and music.

If you need a higher level of pressure, choose "Maximum" Or "Ultra".

Q4. Why is my ZIP file not extracted?
Occasionally, you'll get an error when trying to extract ZIP files on Android. This usually means that the file is corrupted, didn't download properly, or the process didn't complete correctly.

Try re-downloading the ZIP file if possible. You can also try uninstalling and reinstalling ZArchiver or any other application of your choice.

If the ZIP file is located in a system folder, ZArchiver may not be able to access it on Android 10 and later. If this is the case, move the ZIP file outside of the Android system folders.