File archiving on a Xiaomi smartphone is a useful skill that saves memory, organizes documents, or sends multiple files in one archive. Unlike computers where archivers like WinRAR or 7-Zip are installed by default, on Redmi, POCO or Mi phones, this process can cause questions, especially if you have never worked with archives on a mobile device.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of creating ZIP- and RAR-Archives directly on the phone - from built-in tools MIUI You'll learn how to archive photos, videos, documents, and even folders in their entirety, what formats are supported, and how to avoid common errors, and how to properly extract files from the archive if you need to.
1. Standard Archiver in MIUI: Where to look and how to use
Starting with MIUI 12, in the firmware Xiaomi appeared built-in tool to work with ZIP-It doesn't require any additional software to be installed, and it does the basic things like archive, view content, and unpack. But it has limitations, like it doesn't support the format. RAR He can't break up the archives.
To use the standard archiver:
- 📁 Open the Files app (File icon on the desktop).
- 🔍 Go to the folder where the files are stored for archiving (for example, Downloads or DCIM photo).
- 📋 Press and hold your finger on the first file, then mark the rest (or tap on Select All).
- 🗄️ In the bottom menu, select More → Compress (or Archive in New Versions) MIUI).
- 📝 Enter the name of the archive (by default it will be) archive_date.zip) and press OK.
The finished archive will appear in the same folder where the original files were located, it can be immediately sent via the messenger, uploaded to the cloud or moved to a memory card. The important thing is that if you archive files from the DCIM folder (photo / video), after you create ZIP, they will remain in place - the MIUI archiver does not delete the originals automatically.
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If the menu does not have the option "Squeeze", update the Files application through the Play Store or clear its cache in the phone settings.
Archiving through the Google Files app: an alternative for all Android
If you don't like the standard MIUI archiver (for example, because you don't have RAR support), you can use the official Google Files app, which is pre-installed on many smartphones and available for download in the Play Store, and the advantage of this method is cross-platform: archives created through Google Files will easily open on any device.
Archivalization instructions:
- Install Google Files if it is not on your phone.
- Open the app and go to the Review or Folders section.
- Select files (long press) → Check the right ones and tap the icon. ⋮ (three points) in upper right corner.
- Select Compress and confirm the creation of the archive.
Unlike MIUI, you can choose the file format ZIP or 7z (the latter supports lossless compression for some file types), and Google Files shows the estimated size of the archive before it is created, which will help you estimate how much space you will save.
3. Third-party archivers: RAR, ZArchiver and others
For advanced users who need additional features, such as password encryption, volume breakdown or RAR5, specialized applications are suitable.
- 🔐 RAR — official application from the developers of the format, supports the creation and unpacking RAR/ZIP, encryption AES-256.
- 📦 ZArchiver is a free archiver with 30 support+ formats (including 7z, TAR, ISO).
- 🔄 7Z — Optimized for working with format 7z, allows you to adjust the degree of compression.
Let’s look at the process with the example of RAR:
- Download the app from the Play Store (it is paid, but there is a trial period).
- Open RAR, find files for archiving through the built-in Explorer.
- Select them, click Add to the archive (icon +).
- Specify the name, format (ZIP or RAR), compression level and, if necessary, set a password.
- Click OK – the archive will be created in the current folder.
The advantage of RAR is a high degree of compression (especially in RAR5) and the ability to break archives into parts (useful for sending via email or messengers with limited file sizes). For example, if you need to send a 500 MB archive via Telegram (limit - 2 GB), it can be broken into volumes of 100 MB.
How to break up the archive into parts in RAR
Archiving through Total Commander: for experienced users
Total Commander is an advanced file manager with a built-in archiver, suitable for those who are used to working with archives on a PC and want similar functionality on a phone.
- 📂 Creation and unpacking ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR.
- 🔒 Encryption of archives (including AES-256 for ZIP).
- 🔄 Packet renaming of files before archiving.
- 📊 Viewing the contents of the archive without unpacking.
To archive files through Total Commander:
- Install the app from the Play Store.
- Go to the folder with files, highlight them (long press → tick).
- Click Pack in the bottom menu.
- Select the format, compression level and set a password if necessary.
- Confirm the archive.
Total Commander features the ability to archive files directly into cloud storage (like Google Drive or Yandex Drive) without downloading them to your device, which is convenient if you work with large amounts of data and do not want to clog up your phone’s memory.
Select files for archiving|Check the free space on the device|Specify the format of the archive (ZIP/RAR/7z)|If necessary, set a password|Select a folder to save-->
5. PC Archiving: When the Phone Fails to Cope
If you need to archive a very large amount of data (like a phone backup or a video collection), it's easier to do it on a computer.
- Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode in the Notification Curtain).
- Copy the necessary files to the computer.
- Use any archiver (WinRAR, 7-Zip, Bandizip) to create an archive.
- Move the finished archive back to your phone or to the cloud.
This method is relevant if:
- 📱 There is not enough memory on the phone to create an archive.
- ⏳ The process of archiving on a mobile device takes too long.
- 🔧 A specific format is required (e.g, TAR.GZ Linux).
On Xiaomi smartphones with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processors and later (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi K60 Pro), archiving large files can be faster thanks to hardware acceleration. However, for archives larger than 10 GB, it is still recommended to use a PC.
6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
When you archive files on your phone, you often have problems that are common, and here are the ways you can solve them:
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The archive is not created, the process is suspended. | Insufficient memory on the device or SD-map | Clear the cache or transfer files to PC for archiving |
| Archive damaged, not unpacked | The process of creating or copying is interrupted | Repeat the archive, do not retrieve. USB-cable |
| You can not add files to the archive | The archive is password protected or created in read-only mode. | Use an application that supports archive editing (e.g. ZArchiver) |
| Slow archiving of large files | Weak processor or background tasks load the system | Close all applications before archiving or use a PC |
Another common problem is that you can't open the archive on another device, and this happens if you:
- 🔄 The archive is in a rare format (for example, the, 7z customized).
- 🔐 Password used, but not saved or lost.
- 📱 The archive is broken into volumes, but the first file is missing (.part1.rar).
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Always check the integrity of the archive after you've created it! Try unpacking it on the same device. If the archive is damaged, repeat the process with a different compression layer or format.
⚠️ Note: If you archive sensitive data (such as document scans or chat backups), be sure to set a password to the archive. Otherwise, the files can be retrieved on any device without restrictions. AES-256 (for example, RAR or 7-Zip).
7 Archive Optimization: How to Compress Files Stronger
If you want to minimize the size of your archive (for example, to send by email or save space), use these tips:
- 📉 Choose the format RAR5 or 7z instead ZIP — They provide better compression.
- 🔧 In the settings of the archiver set the maximum compression level (in RAR It's the best, in 7-Zip — Ultra).
- 🗑️ Delete temporary files (such as app cache or duplicate photos) before archiving.
- 📷 For photos and videos, pre-convert them to more compact formats (e.g., in-formats, HEIF instead JPEG or MP4 bitrate).
Example: 100 JPEG photos (~500MB) can be converted to HEIF and compressed to 7z to 150-200MB without any noticeable loss of quality.
Also, pay attention to the type of files:
- 📄 Text documents (DOCX, PDF, TXT) They are very good (up to 90% of the original size).
- 🎵 Audio files (MP3, FLAC) They are almost not compressed – it is better to archive them without changing bitrates.
- 🎬 Video formats MKV or MP4 They are weakly compressed (by 5-15%), but you can reduce their size by reducing the resolution.
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If you often archive the same file types (such as work documents), create a preset in the archiver with the right settings. In RAR, this is done through Settings → Profiles.