How to Create Zip Attachments using iOS 11 Files App

One of the coolest features that Apple introduced with iOS 11 is the drag and drop functionality. This new functionality makes it way easier to work with multiple files and sharing content between apps on your iPad. 

RELATED:

• Best Apps for Trying Out the New Drag and Drop 
• How to Use the New Drag and Drop Functionality 

Drag and Drop It All!

Drag and drop functionality on the iPad comes in handy with split screen. Let’s say that you are composing a new email and intend on attaching a number of photos in that email.

You can start by opening up a Mail session on your iPad by tapping on the mail app. Next, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the dock and drag the photos app from your dock onto the Mail app screen. This brings up the Photos app on the right side of your iPad.

You can select multiple Photos by long pressing on the first and then tapping on the next photos and drag them over to the body of the new email. This will individually attach all the Photos to the body of the email.

You can also browse various folders and files directly from your mail app when you click on the attachment icon. Files that you attach these way are attached one by one.

How To Create Zip Attachments Using iOS 11 Files App

A better way to handle this function is to create a folder in your Files App. Drag and drop all the photos that you want to send into this folder. This folder can also include documents ( pdf, word, numbers, keynote). Once you have transferred the desired content into the files folder. Name the folder and you are ready to send.

Open up a new draft mail and split your screen into the files App. Simply drag the folder from your files app into the body of the email. iOS automatically converts the contents of the folder into a single zip file and attaches it to your email.

This makes it very versatile to send a large number of attachments via zip file. Since the Files app now integrates well with Dropbox, Google Drive and other file sharing systems, you can easily transfer multiple work files by using the zip functionality on your iPad.

Similarly, if you are on the receiver end of an email that has a zipped file attached, you can open up the Files app on a split screen along with your Mail and transfer the attachments to your Files by simply dragging and dropping. iOS 11 automatically unzips the folder and stores the contents for you to preview and start using.

This saves you from using any third party app for zipping and unzipping attachments while using iOS Mail on your iDevice.

We hope that you found this short tip useful! Please share your comments below.

SK( Managing Editor )

Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.

Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.

In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.