Quick summary: Send ZIP files over 10GB with WeTransfer by upgrading to WeTransfer Ultimate, which supports large transfers. ZIP files maintain folder organization and file structure, making them ideal for sending complete project folders.
Why Send Large ZIP Files?
ZIP files compress multiple files and folders into a single archive, maintaining folder structure and making downloads more convenient for recipients. This is perfect for:
- Complete project folders with organized subfolders
- Software deliverables with documentation
- Large photo collections organized by date or event
- Website assets with structured folders
- Entire design projects with fonts, images, and working files
WeTransfer handles large ZIP files efficiently, and recipients download a single file that automatically expands to reveal your organized folder structure.
Step-by-Step: How to Send Large ZIP Files
1. Create Your ZIP File
On Windows:
- Select files/folders to compress
- Right-click and choose "Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder"
- Name your ZIP file descriptively
On Mac:
- Select files/folders to compress
- Right-click and choose "Compress [item name]"
- Rename the resulting ZIP file if needed
2. Check Your ZIP File Size
Right-click the ZIP file and select Properties (Windows) or Get Info (Mac) to confirm the file size.
3. Upload to WeTransfer
- Open wetransfer.com
- Click Add your files
- Select your ZIP file
- Choose email or link delivery
- Add a message explaining the ZIP contents
- Click Transfer
Tips for Sending Large ZIP Files
Organize before compressing. Create a clear folder structure before making your ZIP.
Include a README file. Add a plain text README.txt in your ZIP's root folder explaining:
- What's included
- Folder structure
- Software or plugins required
- Any special instructions
- Contact information
Test your ZIP before sending. Extract your ZIP file on your own computer to verify:
- All files are included
- Folder structure is correct
- No corruption during compression
Don't over-compress. ZIP files containing already-compressed content (videos, JPEGs, MP3s) won't get much smaller. Don't waste time trying multiple compression levels for files that don't compress further.
Use password protection for sensitive archives.
Compress systematically. For maximum organization:
- Group related files in folders before compressing
- Remove temporary files, caches, and duplicates
- Verify file names are clear and consistent
What Compresses Well vs. What Doesn't
Files that compress significantly:
- Text documents (.txt, .doc, .docx)
- Code files (.html, .css, .js, .py)
- Vector graphics (.svg, .ai with uncompressed settings)
- Uncompressed images (.bmp, .tiff)
- Spreadsheets (.xlsx, .csv)
Files that don't compress much:
- Already compressed images (.jpg, .png)
- Compressed video (.mp4, .mov with H.264)
- Compressed audio (.mp3, .aac)
- Already compressed archives (.zip, .rar)
- Most modern file formats (which include built-in compression)
Understanding this helps set realistic expectations. A folder of 20GB of MP4 videos might only compress to 19.5GB — don't expect dramatic size reduction.
Security for ZIP File Transfers
All ZIP files uploaded to WeTransfer are encrypted during transfer using TLS encryption. Your archives are stored securely and automatically deleted after expiry.
Your content is always your content - we don’t use machine learning or any form of AI to process content shared via WeTransfer.
For sensitive ZIP archive use WeTransfer's password protection on the transfer
Troubleshooting Large ZIP File Transfers
ZIP file won't compress further? Your files are already compressed (videos, JPEGs, MP3s). This is normal and expected. Send the ZIP as-is.
Upload taking too long? Large ZIP files (especially over 50GB) can take longer to upload depending on your connection. Start uploading overnight or during off-peak internet hours.
Recipient can't extract the ZIP? Ensure they have appropriate software. Windows and Mac have built-in ZIP support, but password-protected or split archives may require specialized software like 7-Zip or WinRAR.
Now you're ready to send large ZIP files quickly and securely with WeTransfer.