How to Download 7-Zip: A Free and Open Source File Archiver
If you need a powerful and versatile tool to compress and decompress files, you should consider downloading 7-Zip. 7-Zip is a free and open source file archiver that can handle many different formats and provide a high compression ratio. In this article, we will show you how to download, install, and use 7-Zip on Windows.
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What is 7-Zip and why you should use it
7-Zip is a file archiver that can create and extract compressed files in various formats. A file archiver is a software that reduces the size of files by applying compression algorithms, which can save disk space and bandwidth. A file archiver can also combine multiple files into a single archive, which can make it easier to share and organize files.
7-Zip features and benefits
Some of the features and benefits of using 7-Zip are:
It is free software with open source. You can use 7-Zip on any computer, including a computer in a commercial organization. You don't need to register or pay for 7-Zip.
It has strong AES-256 encryption in 7z and ZIP formats, which can protect your files from unauthorized access.
It has a self-extracting capability for 7z format, which means you can create an executable file that can extract itself without requiring any additional software.
It has integration with Windows Shell, which means you can right-click on any file or folder and access 7-Zip functions from the context menu.
It has a powerful file manager and command line version, which give you more control and flexibility over your archives.
It has localizations for 87 languages, which make it more user-friendly and accessible.
7-Zip supported formats and compression ratio
One of the main advantages of using 7-Zip is that it supports many different formats for packing and unpacking files. The table below shows some of the supported formats by 7-Zip:
Packing / unpackingUnpacking only
7z, XZ, BZIP2, GZIP, TAR, ZIP, WIMAPFS, AR, ARJ, CAB, CHM, CPIO, CramFS, DMG, EXT, FAT, GPT, HFS, IHEX, ISO, LZH, LZMA, MBR, MSI, NSIS, NTFS, QCOW2, RAR, RPM, SquashFS, UDF, UEFI, VDI, VHD, VHDX, VMDK, XAR and Z
The most popular format used by 7-Zip is the 7z format. The 7z format has a high compression ratio that can be up to 70% better than the ZIP format. The compression ratio depends on the type of data used for the tests. For example, we compared 7-Zip with WinRAR using two file sets: Mozilla Firefox and Google Earth. The results are shown in the table below:
File set7-Zip sizeWinRAR sizeDifference
Mozilla Firefox23.2 MB30.6 MB-24.2%
Google Earth24.8 MB34.1 MB-27.3%
As you can see, 7-Zip can compress the files much more than WinRAR, saving you disk space and bandwidth.
How to download 7-Zip for Windows
If you want to use 7-Zip on your Windows computer, you need to download it first. There are two main ways to download 7-Zip for Windows: from the official website or from SourceForge.
Download 7-Zip from the official website
The official website of 7-Zip is . On this website, you can find the latest version of 7-Zip, as well as previous versions and beta versions. You can also find the source code of 7-Zip, the documentation, the license, and the forum.
To download 7-Zip from the official website, follow these steps:
Go to .
On the homepage, you will see a table with different download links for 7-Zip. Choose the link that matches your system architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) and your preferred format (exe or msi). For example, if you have a 64-bit Windows system and you want to download the exe file, click on the link that says "Download 7-Zip 19.00 (2019-02-21) for Windows: 7z1900-x64.exe".
A dialog box will appear asking you to save the file. Choose a location on your computer where you want to save the file and click "Save". The download will start and may take a few minutes depending on your internet speed.
Once the download is complete, you can find the file in the location you chose. The file name will be something like "7z1900-x64.exe" or "7z1900-x86.msi".
Download 7-Zip from SourceForge
SourceForge is a website that hosts open source software projects. You can also download 7-Zip from SourceForge if you prefer. The advantage of downloading from SourceForge is that you can choose from different mirrors (servers) that may be closer to your location and faster to download from.
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To download 7-Zip from SourceForge, follow these steps:
Go to .
On the project page, you will see a green button that says "Download Latest Version". Click on it and a dialog box will appear asking you to save the file. Choose a location on your computer where you want to save the file and click "Save". The download will start and may take a few minutes depending on your internet speed.
Once the download is complete, you can find the file in the location you chose. The file name will be something like "7z1900.exe" or "7z1900.msi".
Choose the right version of 7-Zip for your system
Before you download 7-Zip, you need to make sure that you choose the right version for your system. There are two main factors that determine which version of 7-Zip you should download: your system architecture and your preferred format.
Your system architecture refers to whether your computer has a 32-bit or a 64-bit processor. A 32-bit processor can only handle up to 4 GB of RAM, while a 64-bit processor can handle more than that. A 64-bit processor can also run faster and more efficiently than a 32-bit processor.
To check your system architecture on Windows, follow these steps:
Right-click on the Start menu and select "System".
A window will open with information about your system. Look for the section that says "System type". It will tell you whether your system is 32-bit or 64-bit.
Choose the version of 7-Zip that matches your system type. For example, if your system is 64-bit, download the 64-bit version of 7-Zip.
Your preferred format refers to whether you want to download the exe or the msi file. The exe file is an executable file that can run directly on your computer. The msi file is a Windows Installer file that can install 7-Zip on your computer. The exe file is usually smaller and faster to download, while the msi file is more secure and easier to uninstall.
To choose your preferred format, follow these steps:
Decide whether you want to download the exe or the msi file. If you are not sure, we recommend downloading the exe file as it is more convenient and simple.
Choose the download link that matches your preferred format. For example, if you want to download the exe file, click on the link that ends with ".exe".
How to install 7-Zip on Windows
After you download 7-Zip, you need to install it on your Windows computer. The installation process is very easy and straightforward. You just need to run the installer and follow the steps.
Run the 7-Zip installer
To run the 7-Zip installer, follow these steps:
Locate the file that you downloaded from the official website or SourceForge. The file name will be something like "7z1900-x64.exe" or "7z1900-x86.msi".
Double-click on the file to launch the installer. If a User Account Control dialog box appears, click "Yes" to allow the installer to make changes to your computer.
A window will open with the 7-Zip logo and a progress bar. Wait for a few seconds until the installation wizard appears.
Follow the installation wizard steps
To follow the installation wizard steps, follow these steps:
The first screen of the installation wizard will ask you to select a language for 7-Zip. Choose your preferred language from the drop-down menu and click "OK".
The second screen of the installation wizard will show you the license agreement for 7-Zip. Read the agreement carefully and click "I Agree" if you accept the terms.
The third screen of the installation wizard will ask you to choose a destination folder for 7-Zip. You can use the default folder or browse for another folder on your computer. Click "Install" when you are ready.
The fourth screen of the installation wizard will show you the installation progress. Wait for a few minutes until the installation is complete.
The fifth screen of the installation wizard will inform you that 7-Zip has been successfully installed on your computer. Click "Finish" to close the installer.
Customize the installation options
If you want to customize some of the installation options for 7-Zip, you can do so before clicking "Install" on the third screen of the installation wizard. To customize the installation options, follow these steps:
On the third screen of the installation wizard, click on "Options". A window will open with some checkboxes and buttons.
You can check or uncheck any of these options according to your preferences:
Create Start Menu folder: This option will create a folder for 7-Zip in your Start Menu, where you can access 7-Zip File Manager and other tools.
Create Desktop Icon: This option will create a shortcut icon for 7-Zip File Manager on your desktop, where you can easily launch it.
Associate 7-Zip with: This option will associate 7-Zip with various file formats, which means that you can open those files with 7-Zip by default. You can choose which formats you want to associate with 7-Zip by clicking on each button and checking or unchecking them.
When you are done customizing the options, click "OK" to return to the installation wizard and click "Install" to proceed with the installation.
How to use 7-Zip on Windows
Now that you have installed 7-Zip on your Windows computer, you can start using it to create and extract compressed files. There are two main ways to use 7-Zip on Windows: using 7-Zip File Manager or using Windows Shell integration.
Open 7-Zip File Manager
7-Zip File Manager is the main interface of 7-Zip, where you can create and extract archives, as well as browse and manage your files and folders. To open 7-Zip File Manager, follow these steps:
Click on the Start menu and look for the 7-Zip folder. If you created a Start Menu folder during the installation, you will find it there. Otherwise, you will find it under All Programs.
Click on the 7-Zip folder and then click on 7-Zip File Manager. Alternatively, you can double-click on the desktop icon if you created one during the installation.
A window will open with two panels: the left panel shows your drives and folders, and the right panel shows the files and subfolders in the selected folder. You can use the toolbar buttons or the menu bar to access various functions of 7-Zip File Manager.
Create a new archive with 7-Zip
To create a new archive with 7-Zip, follow these steps:
Open 7-Zip File Manager and navigate to the folder where you want to create the archive.
Select the files and folders that you want to include in the archive. You can use Ctrl+click or Shift+click to select multiple items.
Click on the Add button on the toolbar or go to File > Add to archive. A window will open with various options for creating the archive.
Choose a name and a location for the archive. You can use the Browse button to select a different folder or drive.
Choose a format for the archive. The default format is 7z, but you can also choose ZIP, TAR, WIM, or any other format supported by 7-Zip.
Choose a compression level for the archive. The default level is Normal, but you can also choose Fast, Fastest, Ultra, Maximum, or Store (no compression).
Choose a compression method for the archive. The default method is LZMA2, but you can also choose LZMA, PPMd, BZip2, or Deflate.
Choose a dictionary size for the archive. The default size is 64 MB, but you can also choose from 16 KB to 1 GB. The larger the dictionary size, the better the compression ratio, but also the longer the compression time.
Choose a word size for the archive. The default size is 32, but you can also choose from 8 to 273. The larger the word size, the better the compression ratio, but also the longer the compression time.
Choose a solid block size for the archive. The default size is Solid, which means that all files are compressed as a single block. You can also choose Non-solid or any other size from 64 KB to 4 GB. The smaller the block size, the faster the extraction time, but also the lower the compression ratio.
Choose an encryption method for the archive. The default method is ZipCrypto, but you can also choose AES-256 if you want stronger encryption. You will need to enter a password and confirm it.
Choose any other options that you want for your archive, such as splitting into volumes, creating a self-extracting archive, adding comments, etc.
Click OK when you are done setting up your archive. The compression process will start and may take some time depending on your settings and file size.
Once the compression is complete, you will see your new archive in the selected location. You can double-click on it to open it with 7-Zip File Manager or any other compatible software.
Extract an existing archive with 7-Zip
To extract an existing archive with 7-Zip, follow these steps:
Open 7-Zip File Manager and navigate to the folder where your archive is located.
Select your archive file and click on the Extract button on the toolbar or go to File > Extract files. A window will open with various options for extracting the archive.
Choose a destination folder for the extracted files. You can use the Browse button to select a different folder or drive.
Choose any other options that you want for your extraction, such as preserving paths, overwriting existing files, testing integrity, etc.
Click OK when you are ready to extract your archive. The extraction process will start and may take some time depending on your archive size and format.
Once the extraction is complete, you will see your extracted files in the selected location. You can open them with your preferred software or delete them if you don't need them anymore.
Integrate 7-Zip with Windows Shell
If you want to use 7-Zip without opening 7-Zip File Manager, you can integrate it with Windows Shell. This means that you can access 7-Zip functions from the context menu that appears when you right-click on any file or folder. To integrate 7-Zip with Windows Shell, follow these steps:
Open 7-Zip File Manager and go to Tools > Options. A window will open with various settings for 7-Zip.
Click on the System tab and check the box that says "Integrate 7-Zip to shell context menu". You can also choose which formats you want to associate with 7-Zip by checking or unchecking them.
Click OK to save your changes and close the window. You may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Now, whenever you right-click on any file or folder, you will see a 7-Zip submenu with various options, such as Add to archive, Extract files, Extract here, Extract to , Open archive, Test archive, etc. You can use these options to create and extract archives quickly and easily.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download, install, and use 7-Zip on Windows. 7-Zip is a free and open source file archiver that can handle many different formats and provide a high compression ratio. You can use 7-Zip File Manager or Windows Shell integration to create and extract archives with 7-Zip. We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.
FAQs
Is 7-Zip safe to use?
Yes, 7-Zip is safe to use as long as you download it from the official website or SourceForge. 7-Zip does not contain any malware or spyware and does not collect any personal data from your computer. However, you should always be careful when opening archives from unknown sources, as they may contain malicious files or viruses.
How do I update 7-Zip?
To update 7-Zip, you need to download the latest version from the official website or SourceForge and run the installer. The installer will automatically detect your existing installation of 7-Zip and overwrite it with the new version. You don't need to uninstall the old version before installing the new one.
How do I uninstall 7-Zip?
To uninstall 7-Zip, you need to run the uninstaller that comes with 7-Zip. You can find the uninstaller in the Start Menu under 7-Zip or in the Control Panel under Programs and Features. The uninstaller will remove all traces of 7-Zip from your computer, including the registry entries and the context menu integration.
Can I use 7-Zip on other operating systems?
Yes, you can use 7-Zip on other operating systems besides Windows. There are official versions of 7-Zip for Linux and Mac OS X, as well as unofficial ports for Android, iOS, and other platforms. You can find more information about these versions on the official website or SourceForge.
Can I use 7-Zip for commercial purposes?
Yes, you can use 7-Zip for commercial purposes without any restrictions or limitations. 7-Zip is licensed under the GNU LGPL license, which allows you to use it on any computer, including a computer in a commercial organization. You don't need to register or pay for 7-Zip.
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