The archiver many people grew up with is still around: WinZip groups its tools under Zip, Unzip, Manage, Backup/Clean, Tools and View tabs, and provides a File Explorer context menu for creating archives or extracting files without first opening the main window.
Create archives from File Explorer
Select files or folders in File Explorer and use WinZip’s context-menu commands to compress them. In the main window, the Zip tab provides another route for building an archive and adding files. ZIP and ZIPX are WinZip archive formats; it can also open 7Z, RAR, GZIP, XZ, TAR and POSIX TAR archives as well as VHD disk images.
Extract archives and handle batches
Use the Unzip tab to extract an archive to a chosen location. WinZip can also unzip several files in one batch, so a group of downloaded archives does not have to be processed one at a time. For files inside an archive, the Manage tools support actions such as finding, opening, moving, and sharing them.
Encrypt files and prepare them for sharing
WinZip can encrypt files as they are added to a ZIP archive, keeping the archive’s contents password-protected. When an archive needs to be divided for transfer, the program can split ZIP files into parts. Email and cloud-sharing options let you send archives or upload them through connected services.
SafeShare combines several sharing safeguards: a password, a date after which the file stops opening, removal of hidden data, watermarking, and merging PDFs. WinZip also includes tools for creating read-only PDFs and adding watermarks to discourage copying.
Manage files across computer and cloud
The Manage tab brings together file operations for items stored on the computer, a network, or a cloud service. WinZip can connect archive creation with cloud uploads, so files can be compressed and sent to a cloud location from the same application. Backup and scheduled job tools are available for setting up recurring file tasks.
Pros
- Opens ZIP, ZIPX, RAR, 7Z and other common archives
- Adds encryption while creating a ZIP archive
- Extracts multiple archives in one batch
- Connects file sharing with cloud services and email
System requirements: Windows 10, Windows 11 · 64-bit only · 1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit) · 235 MB disk space · .NET Framework 4.6 · 1 GHz or faster processor
Which archive formats can WinZip open?
Besides its own ZIP and ZIPX, it reads 7Z, RAR, GZIP, XZ, TAR and VHD files, among others.
Can WinZip protect an archive with a password?
Yes. WinZip can encrypt files while creating a ZIP archive, with password protection for the contents.
Can WinZip extract several archives at once?
Yes. Its batch unzipping feature extracts multiple archives in one operation.
