Free file archiver
7-Zip is a free tool that lets you conveniently unzip and zip files together. 7-Zip gives you multiple methods to unpack and pack files. Although this is a lightweight program, it is powerful in performance. You can download 7-Zip on Microsoft Windows PC computers and laptops with either 32-bit or 64-bit operating systems.
While 7-Zip has one of the highest compression ratios, the software is not the only compression and decompression software that is available. PeaZip, WinRAR, and WinZip are alternatives that let you compress and decompress popular file types like RAR, Zip, 7z, and more. 7-Zip and PeaZip are freeware while WinRAR and WinZip are trialware.
Can I trust 7-Zip?
7-Zip is a trustworthy application since 7Zip is open-source software that lets you look into the source code to make sure that the program is suitable for you. Open-source platforms are generally safer because the code is available instead of hidden.
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Most of the source code that you can edit is available within the terms of the GNU LGPL license. 7-Zip is safe to use as it uses military level grade security AES-256 encryption in ZIP and 7z file formats.
What is 7-Zip 64-bit?
7-Zip is officially available for Windows PC 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems on Windows 10 and earlier. In case you have another OS, the official website lets you download unofficial packages for various systems like Linux and Mac OS.
7-Zip is convenient and easy to use once you have the app installed on your PC. 7-Zip is used for two main circumstances that both have to do with a single file that has multiple files inside.
Decompress, unpack, and unzip are terms that are used to take one or multiple files from a single file source. Compress, pack, and zip are words that package multiple files together to form one. 7-Zip lets you either extract or bundle files together.
7-Zip lets you:
- Pack and unpack the BZIP2, GZIP, WIM, XZ, ZIP, and 7Z file formats
- Only unpack (but cannot pack) Z, XAR, VMDK, VHD, VDI, UEFI, UDF, RPM, RAR, NTFS, NSIS, MSI, MBR, LZMA, LZH, ISO, HFS, FAT, EXT, DMG, CHM, CAB, AR, and ARJ files
What is 7-Zip and do I need it?
7-Zip is a file manager that you can use by right-clicking on files to open the context menu or by double-clicking to launch the user interface. The context menu has a ‘7-Zip’ section that you can hover over to get more services like ‘Compress and email’, ‘Open archive’, ‘Extract files’, and more.
The service gives you multiple locations to unzip or zip files to, which include the current folder, a specific folder, and more. In case you are looking at a zipped file, you can double click to get an overview of the archives inside the user interface. While the user interface is dated, the information inside is invaluable.
Important file information is listed beside each item in the list like size, last modified date, and more. A row of action buttons at the top of the interface include ‘Add’, ‘Extract’, ‘Test’, ‘Copy’, ‘Move’, and ‘Delete’. In case you want to unpack the list, you can select the total amount of files and click ‘Extract’ or drag and drop the selection onto your desktop screen.
7-Zip has a reputation for the highest compression ratio with LZMA2 and LZMA compression. The process for compressing files and folders together is simple since you can highlight and right-click on your selections to choose either an ‘Add’ or ‘Compress’ option from the menu. In case you want to work in the interface, you can double click the highlight and choose ‘Add’ from the icon bar.
Stands the test of time
7-Zip is a reliable app that has been around since 1999. The app is readily available for you to use either in the straightforward interface or handy context menu. It has a command-line version and Windows Shell integration. The program is available in more than 80 languages like English, German, Greek, Indian, Spanish, Vietnamese, and more.
What’s new?
While 7-Zip may not appear to have changed much in recent years, the developers keep their fingers on the pulse of the treasured software with consistent updates. The most recent software update includes a beta version that increased the max dictionary size and speed for LZMA2 and LZMA compressions.
