Why Are My Zip Files the Same Size as Regular Files?
Asked by
TechSavvy42
I'm trying to clear up space on my computer and I noticed something odd. I have a regular folder and a zipped folder on my desktop containing copies of the same files. To my surprise, the size of the zip file is the same as the original folder. Shouldn't zip files be smaller? Do they just stay the same size when I send them to someone?
Answers
Zip files can sometimes be the same size as regular files depending on what kind of files you're dealing with. Text files compress well, but media files like videos and images are often already compressed. So if you're zipping up video or photo files, you might not see much size reduction at all.
Reply to this answer
It really depends on how compression works. Some compression tools like 7z offer better compression rates than standard zip. However, many image and video formats already have built-in compression. If you're looking to save more space, consider changing formats or adjusting compression settings when saving those media files.
Reply to this answer
Most files you encounter today are already compressed formats. Even things like Word documents are effectively zip files in disguise—if you rename them to .zip, you can open them and see the contents. So, if you're zipping files that are already compressed, you won't see much change in size.
Reply to this answer
Add your answer
Answers are reviewed before publication.
MediaMaven88: That makes sense! The files I have are indeed media, and it seems both versions are the same size.