The invention provides a method for converting files into archives and a terminal. The method comprises the following steps: receiving files pushed by each business system, storing the files into a first set, collecting the files needing to be archived in the first set, and pushing the files needing to be archived to a second set; judging whether the to-be-archived files of the first category exist in the second set, if yes, sequentially filling the to-be-archived files of the first category in the second set with metadata, sequentially archiving the to-be-archived files according to the preset archive number rule, collecting the archived files, and pushing the archived files to a third set; and judging whether files exist in the third set or not, if yes, sequentially inspecting whether the archive numbers of the files in the third set are valid or not, and if no, pushing the invalid archives to a third recycle bin, thereby completing the conversion from the files into the archives. The whole conversion process from the files into the archives is standardized, systematized and efficient and is low in cost.