How to Zip an Excel File

Techwalla may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.
Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia/iStock/Getty Images

Microsoft Excel is the spreadsheet component to Microsoft's Office Suite. Since spreadsheets like Excel can often contain large amounts of data, it may become necessary to compress, or zip, those files. Zipping Excel files can also save disk space when archiving files that are seldom used. There are compression programs available as shareware or freeware such as Winrar and Winzip. Microsoft Windows, however, includes an easy to use zip utility as an integrated part of the operating system.

Advertisement

Step 1

Open "My Documents" in Microsoft Windows XP or earlier. If you are running Windows Vista, open "Documents." Both of these are usually found on the "Start" menu.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Navigate through the folders until you locate the Excel file you want to zip.

Advertisement

Step 3

Right-click on the file icon or name you want to zip and select "Send To" from the pop up menu that appears.

Advertisement

Step 4

Select "Compressed (zipped) folder" from the sub-menu. A new zipped file will be created in the same folder. It will keep the same file name, but with a ".zip" extension, as your Excel file. This is the default, but you can change it just like any other file name.

Video of the Day

Advertisement

Advertisement