This method uses your local bandwidth and hard drive space. If the folder is massive (50GB+), your browser might crash. Use Method 2 for huge folders.
To zip a Google Drive folder, the primary method is to use the built-in feature, which automatically compresses the folder into a .zip file before saving it to your computer. While Google Drive does not currently offer a native "Zip in place" button to create an archive without downloading, there are several ways to manage zipped content. Core Methods to Zip Folders zip google drive folder
If you have the app installed (formerly known as Backup and Sync or File Stream), zipping a folder is much faster and feels more natural. This method uses your local bandwidth and hard drive space