How to Add WinZip to Right-Click Menu in Windows 11

Published On - September 18, 2025

Sophia Willson blog

Zip, zap, and zip again! WinZip has been a trusted friend for compressing files for decades. If you’re using Windows 11 and want to make your life easier, you’ll love having WinZip right in your right-click menu. No need to open the app every time. Just a quick click, and boom—your files are zipped or unzipped in no time.

This guide will show you exactly how to add WinZip to your right-click menu in Windows 11. Don’t worry—we’ll keep it easy, fun, and beginner-friendly.

✨ Why Add WinZip to the Right-Click Menu?

Good question! Here are some fun reasons why:

  • Speed: Save time by skipping extra steps.
  • Convenience: No need to open the WinZip window every time.
  • Productivity: Quickly compress or extract in just a click.
  • Neat folders: Keep your workspace clean and organized.

Ready to supercharge your right-click menu? Let’s dive in!

🛠️ Step-by-Step: Adding WinZip to Right-Click Menu

Follow the steps below and you’ll be zipping like a pro.

1. First Thing First: Install WinZip

We know, obvious, right? But it must be said!

  1. Go to the official WinZip website: www.winzip.com
  2. Download WinZip.
  3. Install it like any regular app.

You can use either the free trial or the paid version—both work for this trick.

If WinZip is already installed, great! You’re ready for the next step.

2. Open WinZip Settings

Time to customize some cool things.

  1. Open WinZip from your Start Menu.
  2. Click on “Options” in the toolbar (top section).
  3. Select “Configuration” from the dropdown.

This opens the main configuration window where the magic happens.

3. Turn On the Right-Click Menu

Now, it’s time to turn on some sweet right-click options.

  1. In the Configuration window, click the “Explorer” tab.
  2. Look for the section that says “Shell Integration”.
  3. Check the box that says “Add WinZip to context menu” (or something similar).

Here you can choose which WinZip actions appear in the right-click menu. Examples include:

  • Add to Zip file
  • Zip and email
  • Unzip to here

Check the ones you want. You can always change them later.

4. Apply and Close

You’re nearly there! Once you’ve chosen your options:

  1. Click Apply.
  2. Then click OK to close the Configuration window.

That’s it! You’ve officially upgraded your right-click menu 🎉

✅ Test It Out

Let’s make sure it works!

  1. Right-click any file or folder on your desktop.
  2. You should see new WinZip options in the menu.

If you see the WinZip choices there, you’ve nailed it. Go ahead—try zipping a file and see how quick it is.

❓ Don’t See It? Quick Fixes

If the WinZip menu isn’t showing up, don’t worry. Here are some little tricks to help:

  • Restart your PC: Sometimes it just needs a quick restart.
  • Run as Admin: Open WinZip using “Run as administrator” and try again.
  • Reinstall WinZip: Just uninstall and reinstall—it’s quick.

Still stuck? Check your Windows settings for context menu customizations or third-party interference like other compression tools.

🌟 Advanced Bonus: Customize Even More!

Want to go deeper? Here are a few bonus ideas to make things extra cool.

Edit What Actions Show in Right-Click

Go back to the Explorer tab in WinZip’s Configuration menu. Pick just the actions you like best!

For example, if you only want “Zip and Email” and “Unzip Here,” uncheck the others. Clean. Simple.

Use Drag and Drop Zip Wizard

If you drag a file onto a zip file, WinZip can auto-update it—no menu needed!

Enable this in Configuration > Miscellaneous.

🧹 What If You Want to Remove It Later?

No problem at all. Maybe you’re going minimalist. Or just taking a break from zipping.

  1. Open WinZip.
  2. Go to Options > Configuration.
  3. Go to the Explorer tab.
  4. Uncheck “Add WinZip to context menu”.
  5. Click Apply and OK.

The WinZip options will vanish from your right-click menu like magic.

🚀 Final Thoughts

Adding WinZip to your right-click menu is a tiny tweak with big rewards. It saves time, boosts your efficiency, and just feels awesome.

Now that everything’s set, you’re ready to zip like a ninja. Whether it’s backing up files, organizing photos, or preparing documents to send, you’ve got the power—right at your fingertips!

So right-click away and make file compression fast, fun, and super easy 🧡