Unlike other proprietary operating systems, say Windows, most Linux distributions has been equipped with a number of ready to use applications. Including an application to handle ZIP files. Archive Manager (previously known and File Roller) is the most well-known archive manager in Linux, probably the best. This tool can be used to both create and extract ZIP files. In addition to ZIP, the tool also supports other archive formats like 7Z, TAR.GZ and lots more.

Archive Manager itself is a standard archive manager for GNOME environment. However, it doesn’t mean that the tool only runs on GNOME. Other desktop environment users can also use this tool to work with ZIP files. This article is going to show you how to use Archive Manager to create a ZIP file in Linux and protect it with a password. The Linux distribution used in this example is Ubuntu 16.04.

Ubuntu has included Archive Manager as its default app so you don’t have to install it anymore. If your distro hasn’t included Archive Manager, you can download it here. There are two ways to create a ZIP file using Archive Manager.

Method one

• Launch Archive Manager on your computer.

• Click File and select New Archive. Or simply press the Ctrl+N.

• Give your file a name and specify the folder where you want to save your zipped file. Click the Other Options link and enter your preferred password. Press the Create button once you done with these.

• Click the “+” button and select the files you want to add to your archive.

Done!. Close Archive Manager and try to extract the protected ZIP file you have just created. You should be asked to enter a keyword.

Method 2

• Open file manager and select file(s) or folder you want to archive and right click. Select the Compress option.

• Give your file a name and specify the folder where you want to save your zipped file. Click the Other Options button and enter your preferred password. Press the Create button once you done with these.