The Quick Start Guide

This Guide introduces some file compression terms and provides a first look at using some WinZip® features. For additional information see the WinZip help file, and the WinZip web site.

What is a Zip File, Anyway?

Zip files are files used for storing and distributing files, and can contain one or more files. Usually the files "zipped" in a Zip file are compressed to save space. Zip files typically have an extension of .zip or .zipx. Zip files are often used to:

What Does WinZip Do?

WinZip makes it easy for Mac users to work with Zip files. WinZip features an intuitive point-and-click drag-and-drop interface for viewing, running, unzipping, adding to, and deleting files in Zip files with a standard Mac interface.

About WinZip's First Run Options

During the first run of WinZip you are asked whether you would like WinZip to copy the application into your application folder and whether you want WinZip to always appear on your Dock.

Using WinZip

With its Finder-like interface, the WinZip interface is quite powerful yet easy to use, once the basics of Zip files are understood. In the following sections we will describe the WinZip interface and provide a brief introduction to some of the features of WinZip.

Quick Zipping with WinZip

  1. When WinZip starts, a new "Untitled.zip" Zip file is created automatically in a temporary location. If WinZip is already running, to create a new Zip file, in the WinZip window choose New Zip File from the File menu. The new "Untitled.zip" Zip File window will appear.
  2. To add (zip) items to the Zip file, click the Add and select a location on the toolbar or choose Add from My Mac or Add from Cloud from the Actions menu. The Add sheet will appear.
  3. In the Add sheet, select the items (files and folders) that you want to add to your new Zip file and click Zip.
  4. Select Save from the File menu and specify the location where you want to save the Zip file and type in the name you want to use for your Zip file, then click Save.

That's it--you have created a new Zip file. You can now examine the contents of your new Zip file, select another activity within WinZip, or close the WinZip window.

Note: You can also add items to a Zip file by dragging the items from the Files pane, the desktop or Finder and dropping them on the WinZip window.

Quick Unzipping with WinZip

  1. In the WinZip window, choose Open Zip File from the File menu and select a location (from this Mac, from ZipShare, etc.). The Open window will appear.
  2. In the Open window, select the Zip file you want to unzip, then click Open. The contents of the Zip file will be displayed in the WinZip window.
  3. To unzip files from the Zip file, click the Unzip toolbar button and select a location or choose Unzip to My Mac or Unzip to Cloud from the Actions menu. The Unzip sheet will appear.
  4. Choose the folder where you want to place the unzipped files and click Unzip.

That's it--you have unzipped the contents of the Zip file to the chosen folder. You can now work with the unzipped files, select another activity within WinZip, or close the WinZip window.

Note: You can also unzip files from a Zip file in the WinZip window by dragging them to the desired folder selected in the Files pane, the desktop or to the desired folder in Finder.

WinZip Tips

Contacting Technical Support

The best way to ask questions or report problems is to send a message to the e-mail address shown on the WinZip web site's contact page.