Send a folder as a ZIP: how to compress and share a folder in 2026
You cannot send a folder directly as an attachment. But if you turn it into a ZIP file first, it works. Here is how on Windows, Mac and online.
Why zip a folder?
Email and most file sharing services do not accept folders — only individual files. By compressing the folder into a ZIP file you bundle everything into one file that is easy to send.
An added bonus: a ZIP file is often smaller than the separate files combined, especially with documents and text files.
Zipping a folder on Windows
Windows has built-in ZIP support, no extra software needed:
- Find the folder in File Explorer
- Right-click the folder
- Choose "Compress to ZIP file" (Windows 11) or "Send to → Compressed (zipped) folder" (Windows 10)
- A new ZIP file appears in the same location
Windows 11 tip: You can also select several files and zip them at once via right-click → "Compress to ZIP file".
Zipping a folder on a Mac
- Find the folder in Finder
- Right-click (or Control-click) the folder
- Choose "Compress [folder name]"
- An
Archive.zipfile appears next to the folder
Sending the ZIP file
If the ZIP file is smaller than 25MB you can attach it to an email directly. Is it larger? Then upload it and send a download link.
- Go to share2file.com
- Upload your ZIP file (up to 3GB free)
- Copy the download link
- Send the link by email, WhatsApp or text message
Tip: Large photo or project folders are often several GBs. Upload the ZIP file and share the link — faster than sending dozens of separate files.
How large will a ZIP file be?
The compression depends on the file type:
| File type | Compression | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Word, Excel, text | Up to 90% smaller | 10MB → 1MB |
| JPG photos | Almost none | 100MB → 98MB |
| MP4 videos | Almost none | 500MB → 498MB |
| Mixed content | 10–40% smaller | 1GB → 700MB |
Videos and photos are already compressed — zipping hardly makes them smaller.
Conclusion
Zipping a folder only takes a few seconds on both Windows and Mac. Is the ZIP file larger than 25MB? Then upload it and send a download link. That way the recipient gets everything at once, neatly organised, without any hassle.