How to zip multiple folders at once

Option 1: PowerShell Script

You can create a zip file or each subfolder to its own zip file with a PowerShell script.

You can ask ChatGPT to write that script for you. For example, I gave ChatGPT this directive:

Write a PowerShell script that will create a zip file of each subfolder (not recursive) found within the path provided as a command line argument.

And it produced this script:

ZipFolders.ps1

param ( 

    [string]$FolderPath 

) 

# Check if the provided path exists 

if (-not (Test-Path -Path $FolderPath -PathType Container)) { 

    Write-Host "Invalid path. Please provide a valid folder path." 

    exit 

} 

# Get a list of subfolders 

$subfolders = Get-ChildItem -Path $FolderPath -Directory 

foreach ($subfolder in $subfolders) { 

    $zipFileName = Join-Path -Path $FolderPath -ChildPath "$($subfolder.BaseName).zip" 

    # Create a zip file for each subfolder 

    Add-Type -AssemblyName System.IO.Compression.FileSystem 

    [System.IO.Compression.ZipFile]::CreateFromDirectory($subfolder.FullName, $zipFileName) 

    Write-Host "Zip file created: $($zipFileName)" 

} 

Write-Host "Zip file creation complete for all subfolders." 

Paste the code above into NotePad and save it. Suggested file name: ZipFolders.ps1.

To make the script convenient to use, Alt-drag the script to the desktop to create a shortcut. Then right-click that shortcut, select Properties and then add powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy ByPass to the beginning of the target field. This is necessary to enable drag and drop. Ensure there is a space between that command and the script path.

Now you can drag and drop a folder to the shortcut and it will create zip files of all the immediate subfolders.

Option 2: Third-Party Tools

Alternatively, you can install a third-party zip tool such as BandiZip. It provides a right-click option to zip folders to their own separate zip files.

I do have 7-zip, but I don't see that option when right clicking :(

You're right. I have BandiZip installed and it has the option. I could have sworn 7-Zip did too, but now that I search the topic, I see a bunch of workarounds using batch file for loops and such. You're better off using the PowerShell script in that case.

I recommend switching to BandiZip.

I do have 7-zip, but I don't see that option when right clicking :(

Just checking with you, is there anything further I can help you with?

Hi, I am Dave, I will help you with this.

There is no method to do that in Windows, that will always zip all the folders into one large zip archive file, it may be possible with some 3rd party zip utility, but not in Windows natively.