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Create and extract archives ​

Archive packs files into one archive file and unpacks archives again. An archive is a single file that holds many files, often compressed. The module has two tabs, Create and Extract, and works on every platform without extra tools.

Create an archive ​

  1. On the home screen, select Archive. The Create tab is open.

  2. Add files with Add files to archive (click or drop), and on Linux and Windows add whole folders with Add a folder.

    A folder keeps its name and the folders inside it.

  3. Choose a Format: ZIP, TAR or TAR.GZ.

  4. For ZIP and TAR.GZ, set the compression Level from 1 (fastest) to 9 (smallest). The default is 6. TAR does not compress, so it has no level.

  5. For ZIP only, you can type a Password (optional, AES-256).

  6. Select Create archive.

The archive is named after the first item you added, for example photos.zip, and saved next to it or in your output folder. A message shows how many files went in, the sizes and the space saved.

WARNING

CompressX cannot recover a forgotten ZIP password. Store it somewhere safe.

Which format to choose ​

  • ZIP opens on almost any computer and phone, and can have a password.
  • TAR bundles files without compressing them. Common on Linux.
  • TAR.GZ is a TAR file compressed with gzip. Common on Linux for downloads and backups.

Photos, videos and music are already compressed, so an archive of them is barely smaller than the files themselves.

Extract an archive ​

  1. Open the Extract tab.

  2. Select Pick an archive to extract (or drop one on it). It accepts .zip, .tar, .gz and .tgz files.

  3. If the ZIP has a password, type it under Password (if encrypted).

  4. Select Extract… and choose the folder to extract into.

A message says how many files were extracted and where. On Android there is no folder choice: files go to a folder named after the archive inside the app's SmartCompress folder.

A plain .gz file (not a TAR.GZ) holds a single file; CompressX writes that file with the .gz removed from its name.

Entries that try to write outside the chosen folder (for example names starting with ../) are skipped.

Next steps ​