ZIP archive
Also known as: ZIP file, .zip, compressed folder, zip
A ZIP archive bundles one or more files into a single compressed .zip file that is smaller and easier to share. Unzipping it creates a second, full-size copy of the contents — so an archive and its extracted files can both take up space at once.
- Lossless: bundles and compresses files with no data loss
- Barely shrinks already-compressed photos and video
- Unzipping leaves both the archive and the extracted copy
How ZIP saves space
ZIP applies lossless compression — it shrinks files without losing any data, then bundles them into one container. It works well on documents and text, which compress a lot, but barely shrinks already-compressed files like JPEG photos or MP4 video.
On iPhone and iPad you create and open archives in the Files app: long-press a file and choose Compress, or tap a .zip to extract it.
The duplicate-copy trap
Extracting a ZIP does not remove the archive. Once you unzip, you have two copies — the original .zip and the unpacked files — each consuming storage until you delete one. Forgotten archives in the Downloads folder are a common source of hidden clutter.
After you have extracted what you need, deleting the leftover .zip is safe and reclaims its full size.