Zip a file or folder on your Mac to send it

Why it happens

Finder has a built-in zip tool, so you don't need to download anything. A zip packs many files into one, which makes them easy to email or upload. It also shrinks documents a lot, though photos and videos barely get smaller because they're already compressed.

How to fix it

1. Open the folder with the files in Finder. To pick several, hold Command and click each one.

2. Control-click (or right-click) one of the selected items and choose Compress from the menu.

   Finder›Control-click›Compress

3. Wait a moment. A single item becomes a zip with the same name. Several items become one file called Archive.zip, which you can rename.

4. Attach or upload the .zip file as usual. To open it again, double-click it and the original files come out next to it.

Still not fixed?

1. If the zip is still too big to email, Mail can send it with Mail Drop, which gives the other person a download link instead. Or share it from iCloud Drive.

2. If photos and videos hardly shrink, that's normal. To make photos smaller, export them from the Photos app at a smaller size before you zip them.

3. If Compress isn't in the menu, make sure you Control-clicked a selected file, not empty space in the window. It also appears in the File menu.

4. If Finder says it can't compress, check your Mac has enough free space and that you're allowed to open every file in the selection. If it keeps failing, contact Apple Support.