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Can Claude zip files?

Yes in the Claude apps with code execution on (the default on Free, Pro and Max). Claude can zip files you upload, and Claude Code can run the zip command on your disk. Connect the Zip server (free token) and Claude packs uploaded files into a new archive and adds files to an existing one, with entry names kept safe to unpack. A local install can also bundle a month of invoices.

Connect with a free token Zip MCP server

What Claude does alone, and what needs the server

Claude on its own

  • Tells you which files to include.
  • Zips files you upload in its sandbox when code execution is on.
  • Explains zip, tar and compression ratios.

With the Zip server

  • A real .zip with a download link in apps where code execution is off.
  • Adding files to an archive you already have.
  • A history of the archives it made.

A real call to the live server

We sent this to the hosted server on 2026-11-05. The answer below is the server's own text, not a mock-up. Live values will differ when you ask.

You ask

Zip the two October invoices and notes.txt into acme-october.zip.

Tool call

zip_create {"out_path":"acme-october","paths":["invoice-0091.pdf","invoice-0092.pdf","notes.txt"]}

Server answer

Wrote <download link> (valid 1 hour): 3 entries, 2.4 KB from 4.7 KB (1.94x smaller). invoice-0091.pdf 2.8 KB invoice-0092.pdf 1.8 KB notes.txt 38 B

The three files were uploaded with zip_upload first. Download links last one hour, so they are shown here as <download link>.

Connect it in 1 minute

Get a free token first. No account, 30 days, 600 calls an hour. Put it in the URL in place of <token>. In Claude.ai or Claude Desktop open Settings, then Connectors, then Add custom connector, and paste the URL.

1. Free token

curl -s -X POST https://mcp.zovo.one/mcp/token

Connector URL (replace <token>)

https://mcp.zovo.one/mcp/zip/t/<token>

Claude Code

claude mcp add --transport http zip https://mcp.zovo.one/mcp/zip/t/<token>

Cursor (~/.cursor/mcp.json)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "zip": {
      "url": "https://mcp.zovo.one/mcp/zip/t/<token>"
    }
  }
}

VS Code (.vscode/mcp.json)

{
  "servers": {
    "zip": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.zovo.one/mcp/zip/t/<token>"
    }
  }
}

All 7 tools, free and Pro limits and more prompts are on the Zip MCP server page.

Questions

Can Claude zip files?
Yes in the Claude apps with code execution on (the default on Free, Pro and Max). Claude can zip files you upload, and Claude Code can run the zip command on your disk. Connect the Zip server (free token) and Claude packs uploaded files into a new archive and adds files to an existing one, with entry names kept safe to unpack. A local install can also bundle a month of invoices.
Can it open zip files too?
Yes. See the page on reading zip files. It lists entries, reads one text file and unpacks safely.
Is it free?
Creating archives is free for 20 a month, and listing is free. On the hosted server your files and records are kept for your token for 30 days, refreshed on every write. Install the server locally if you want nothing to leave your machine.
Is the server free?
The hosted Zip server has a free tier. A free token lasts 30 days and allows 600 calls an hour, with no account. Some features are Pro, and the server page lists what is free and what is not.

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