Compact.exe: What Is It & How Is It Used?
Comprehensive guide on how to easily compress a folder
If you run out of disk space, it is common to want to delete files or get a bigger storage drive to create more space. However, there is an easier way to create space by compressing files. The tool comes as a Windows OS inbuilt compressor utility known as compact.exe.
In this guide, we will explore what compact.exe means and how to properly compress files and folders. We also recommend checking out our previous guides on other executables like bthudtask.exe and Browser_broker.Exe.
What is the use of compact exe?
Compact exe is a Windows command line utility that enables you to compress files or folders on NTFS partitions, freeing up disk space. Some of its primary functions include the following.
- This command line tool can compress files using various compression algorithms.
- It can also be used to decompress files previously compressed by compact.exe. This is quite useful when you want to access the original contents of a file.
- It can be used to suppress output in cases where you do not want to see the output of compact.exe.
- It can also recursively compress files, allowing you to compress all the files and subdirectories in a directory.
How do I use compact.exe to compress folders?
Compress a folder
- Press Windows + S to open the Search bar, type powershell in the text area, and choose the relevant option.
- Input the command below to go to the directory or path where the folder you want to compress is located. Replace folder path with the correct path to the directory.
cd [folder path] - Once you are in the required directory, enter the command below to compress the folder.
compact /c
- Compact.exe by default will use the XPRESS4K algorithm to compress files. If you would like to use another algorithm, use the command below. Replace algorithm with the specific algorithm you want to use and hit Enter.
compact /exe:[algorithm] - For example, if you want to use the XPRESS8K algorithm, use the code below.
compact /exe:XPRESS8K
In conclusion, following the steps outlined in this guide will help you compress entire folders on your device. We hope this article has provided the answers you seek. Feel free to contact us via the comment section if you have further questions.
