Looking for a free, ad-free archiver that compresses tighter than ZIP? 7-Zip's own 7z format uses LZMA and LZMA2 compression, 7z and ZIP archives can be locked with AES-256 encryption, and the program opens a wide range of archive and disk-image formats through Windows shell integration, a file manager, and command-line tools.
How do you create or extract an archive?
In File Explorer, use 7-Zip’s Windows shell commands to add selected files or folders to an archive, or extract an archive’s contents. The 7-Zip File Manager provides another way to browse files and carry out archive operations. A command-line version supports scripted or repeated tasks.
Which formats can 7-Zip create and open?
Besides its own 7z format, 7-Zip writes and reads ZIP, TAR, GZIP, BZIP2 and XZ archives as well as WIM images. It can also unpack a broad selection of other formats, including RAR, ISO, DMG, CAB, MSI, and VHDX. RAR support is for extraction only.
The 7z format supports LZMA and LZMA2 compression. ZIP and GZIP are also available when an archive needs to use those formats.
How do encryption and split archives work?
When creating a 7z or ZIP archive, you can set a password and use AES-256 encryption. The archive settings also let you choose compression options and split an archive into parts. A 7z archive can be made self-extracting, so recipients can unpack it without a separate archive program.
Pros
- Creates 7z archives with LZMA and LZMA2 compression
- Creates and extracts ZIP, TAR, GZIP, BZIP2, XZ, and WIM
- Extracts RAR, ISO, DMG, and VHDX files
- Supports AES-256 encryption and 7z self-extracting archives
Cons
- RAR files can be extracted but not created
System requirements: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows 11
Can 7-Zip open RAR files?
Yes. It can extract RAR archives, but it cannot create them.
Which formats support AES-256 encryption?
7z and ZIP archives support AES-256 encryption.
Can 7-Zip create an archive that extracts itself?
Yes. It can create self-extracting archives in 7z format.