How to Download and Use 7-Zip: A Free and Powerful File Compression Tool
If you often work with large files or need to save some disk space, you might want to use a file compression tool. File compression is the process of reducing the size of a file by removing redundant or unnecessary data. This way, you can store more files in less space, or send them faster over the internet.
There are many file compression tools available online, but one of the best ones is 7-Zip. 7-Zip is a free and open-source software that can compress and decompress files in various formats. It has a high compression ratio, a simple user interface, and strong encryption features. In this article, we will show you how to download and use 7-Zip on Windows.
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What is 7-Zip and Why You Need It
7-Zip is a file archiver that was developed by Igor Pavlov in 1999. It is one of the most popular file compression tools in the world, with over 500 million downloads. It has several features and benefits that make it stand out from other tools.
7-Zip Features and Benefits
It is free and open-source. You can use it on any computer, including a commercial one, without paying or registering. You can also modify or distribute it under the GNU LGPL license.
It has a high compression ratio. It can compress files up to 40% better than other tools, depending on the format and settings. It uses advanced algorithms like LZMA and LZMA2 to achieve this.
It supports many formats. It can pack and unpack files in 7z, XZ, BZIP2, GZIP, TAR, ZIP, WIM, and more. It can also unpack files in RAR, DMG, ISO, CAB, ARJ, CHM, MSI, NSIS, RPM, UDF, VHD, XAR, Z, and more.
It has strong encryption. It can protect your files with AES-256 encryption in 7z and ZIP formats. You can also create self-extracting archives that require a password to open.
It integrates with Windows Shell. You can access its functions from the right-click menu or the context menu of Windows Explorer. You can also drag and drop files to compress or decompress them.
It has a powerful file manager. You can use it to browse, view, create, edit, or delete files and folders. You can also split or merge files, test archives for errors, or benchmark your system.
It has a command-line version. You can use it to automate tasks or run scripts from the command prompt or batch files. You can also use it on Linux or other operating systems with p7zip.
7-Zip Supported Formats and Compression Ratios
As mentioned above, 7-Zip can handle many file formats for compression and decompression. However, its native format is 7z, which offers the best compression ratio among all formats. Here is a table that shows the compression ratios of different formats using 7-Zip with default settings on a sample of 385 MB of data.
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Format
Compression Ratio
Archive Size
Time
7z
63%
144 MB
2:44 min
ZIP
39%
233 MB
0:58 min
GZIP
38%
237 MB
1:02 min
BZIP2
37%
241 MB
6:14 min
RAR
29%
272 MB
1:10 min
TAR
0%
385 MB0:03 min
You can adjust the compression level, method, dictionary size, word size, and other parameters to optimize the compression ratio and speed for your needs. You can also choose different formats for different types of files, such as text, audio, video, or executable files.
How to Download and Install 7-Zip on Windows
If you want to use 7-Zip on your Windows computer, you need to download and install it first. Here are the steps to do that:
Step 1: Go to the Official Website of 7-Zip
The official website of 7-Zip is . You can find the latest version of 7-Zip for Windows there, as well as other information and resources. You can also download the source code or the command-line version of 7-Zip from there.
Step 2: Choose the Version and Link Type for Your System
The latest version of 7-Zip for Windows is 19.00, which was released on February 21, 2019. You can choose between the 32-bit version and the 64-bit version, depending on your system type. You can check your system type by right-clicking on My Computer or This PC and selecting Properties.
You can also choose between the .exe link and the .msi link, depending on your preference. The .exe link is a self-extracting executable file that you can run directly. The .msi link is a Windows Installer file that you can install with the Windows Installer service.
For example, if you have a 64-bit system and want to use the .exe link, you can click on the link that says "Download 7-Zip 19.00 (2019-02-21) for Windows: ". This will start downloading the file to your computer.
Step 3: Run the Installer and Follow the Instructions
Once you have downloaded the file, you can run it by double-clicking on it or right-clicking on it and selecting Run as administrator. This will open the installer window, where you can follow the instructions to install 7-Zip on your computer.
The installer will ask you to choose a destination folder for 7-Zip. You can use the default folder or browse to another one. It will also ask you to choose which components to install, such as the file manager, the shell extension, or the plugins. You can check or uncheck the boxes according to your preference.
The installer will also ask you to associate 7-Zip with certain file types, such as .zip, .rar, .7z, etc. You can check or uncheck the boxes according to your preference. If you check a box, it means that 7-Zip will be the default program to open that file type.
The installer will then copy the files to your computer and create shortcuts and registry entries. It will also show you the license agreement and the readme file. You can read them or skip them. Finally, it will ask you to restart your computer to complete the installation. You can choose to restart now or later.
Congratulations, you have successfully installed 7-Zip on your Windows computer. You can now use it to compress and decompress files and folders.
How to Use 7-Zip to Compress and Decompress Files and Folders
Now that you have 7-Zip on your computer, you can use it to compress and decompress files and folders. There are two main ways to do that: using the right-click menu or using the 7-Zip file manager. We will show you both methods in this section.
How to Compress Files and Folders with 7-Zip
Compressing files and folders with 7-Zip means creating an archive that contains them. An archive is a single file that can store multiple files or folders in a compressed form. You can compress files and folders with 7-Zip using either the right-click menu or the 7-Zip file manager.
Method 1: Using the Right-Click Menu
This method is the easiest and fastest way to compress files and folders with 7-Zip. Here are the steps:
Select the files or folders that you want to compress. You can select multiple items by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking on them.
Right-click on one of the selected items and choose 7-Zip from the context menu. You will see a submenu with various options.
Choose Add to archive... from the submenu. This will open a dialog box where you can customize the compression settings.
In the dialog box, you can choose the archive format, such as 7z, ZIP, GZIP, etc. You can also choose the compression level, method, dictionary size, word size, and other parameters. You can also enable encryption, password protection, or split the archive into volumes.
In the dialog box, you can also choose the name and location of the archive file. By default, it will have the same name as one of the selected items and will be saved in the same folder. You can change these by typing in the Archive field or clicking on the browse button (...).
When you are done with the settings, click on OK. This will start compressing the files or folders into an archive file.
Wait for the compression process to finish. You will see a progress bar showing the status of the compression. When it is done, you will see a message saying "Everything is OK". You can then close the dialog box.
You have successfully compressed your files or folders with 7-Zip using the right-click menu. You can find your archive file in the location that you specified.
Method 2: Using the 7-Zip File Manager
This method is more advanced and flexible than using the right-click menu. It allows you to browse, view, create, edit, or delete files and folders in your computer or in an archive file. Here are the steps:
Open the 7-Zip file manager by clicking on its icon on your desktop or start menu, or by typing "7zfm" in the Run dialog box (Windows + R).
In the file manager window, you will see two panels: one for your computer and one for an archive file. You can switch between them by clicking on their tabs.
Navigate to the folder where your files or folders are located in your computer panel. You can use the toolbar buttons, the address bar, or the keyboard shortcuts to do that.
Select the files or folders that you want to compress in your computer panel. You can select multiple items by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking on them.
Click on the Add button on the toolbar or press Alt + A. This will open a dialog box where you can customize the compression settings.
In the dialog box, you can choose the archive format, such as 7z, ZIP, GZIP, etc. You can also choose the compression level, method, dictionary size, word size, and other parameters. You can also enable encryption, password protection, or split the archive into volumes.
In the dialog box, you can also choose the name and location of the archive file. By default, it will have the same name as one of the selected items and will be saved in the same folder. You can change these by typing in the Archive field or clicking on the browse button (...).
When you are done with the settings, click on OK. This will start compressing the files or folders into an archive file.
Wait for the compression process to finish. You will see a progress bar showing the status of the compression. When it is done, you will see a message saying "Everything is OK". You can then close the dialog box.
You have successfully compressed your files or folders with 7-Zip using the file manager. You can find your archive file in the location that you specified.
How to Decompress Files and Folders with 7-Zip
Decompressing files and folders with 7-Zip means extracting them from an archive file. An archive file is a single file that contains multiple files or folders in a compressed form. You can decompress files and folders with 7-Zip using either the right-click menu or the 7-Zip file manager.
Method 1: Using the Right-Click Menu
This method is the easiest and fastest way to decompress files and folders with 7-Zip. Here are the steps:
Locate the archive file that you want to decompress on your computer. You can use Windows Explorer or any other file manager to do that.
Right-click on the archive file and choose 7-Zip from the context menu. You will see a submenu with various options.
Choose Extract Here from the submenu. This will extract all the files and folders from the archive file to the same folder where it is located.
If the archive file is encrypted or password-protected, you will be prompted to enter the password before extracting. Type in the password and click on OK.
Wait for the extraction process to finish. You will see a progress bar showing the status of the extraction. When it is done, you will see a message saying "Everything is OK". You can then close the dialog box.
You have successfully decompressed your files and folders with 7-Zip using the right-click menu. You can find them in the same folder as the archive file.
Method 2: Using the 7-Zip File Manager
This method is more advanced and flexible than using the right-click menu. It allows you to browse, view, create, edit, or delete files and folders in your computer or in an archive file. Here are the steps:
Open the 7-Zip file manager by clicking on its icon on your desktop or start menu, or by typing "7zfm" in the Run dialog box (Windows + R).
In the file manager window, you will see two panels: one for your computer and one for an archive file. You can switch between them by clicking on their tabs.
Navigate to the folder where your archive file is located in your computer panel. You can use the toolbar buttons, the address bar, or the keyboard shortcuts to do that.
Select the archive file that you want to decompress in your computer panel. You can also select multiple archive files by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking on them.
Click on the Extract button on the toolbar or press Alt + E. This will open a dialog box where you can customize the extraction settings.
In the dialog box, you can choose the destination folder where you want to extract the files and folders from the archive file. By default, it will be the same folder as the archive file. You can change it by typing in the Extract to field or clicking on the browse button (...).
In the dialog box, you can also choose whether to extract with full paths or without paths. If you choose with full paths, it will preserve the original folder structure of the archive file. If you choose without paths, it will extract all the files and folders to a single folder.
If the archive file is encrypted or password-protected, you will be prompted to enter the password before extracting. Type in the password and click on OK.
When you are done with the settings, click on OK. This will start extracting the files and folders from the archive file to the destination folder.
Wait for the extraction process to finish. You will see a progress bar showing the status of the extraction. When it is done, you will see a message saying "Everything is OK". You can then close the dialog box.
You have successfully decompressed your files and folders with 7-Zip using the file manager. You can find them in the destination folder that you specified.
Conclusion
7-Zip is a free and powerful file compression tool that can help you save disk space, send files faster, and protect your data. It has a high compression ratio, supports many formats, and integrates with Windows Shell. You can download and install it from its official website, and use it to compress and decompress files and folders using the right-click menu or the file manager. You can also customize the compression settings, enable encryption, or split archives into volumes. 7-Zip is a versatile and reliable tool that you should have on your computer.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about 7-Zip:
Is 7-Zip safe to use?
Yes, 7-Zip is safe to use. It is a free and open-source software that has been tested and verified by many users and experts. It does not contain any malware, spyware, or adware. It does not collect or transmit any personal or sensitive information. It does not modify or damage your system or files.
How can I update 7-Zip to the latest version?
You can update 7-Zip to the latest version by downloading and installing it from its official website. You do not need to uninstall the previous version before installing the new one. The installer will overwrite the old files and keep your settings and preferences.
How can I uninstall 7-Zip from my computer?
You can uninstall 7-Zip from your computer by using the Windows Control Panel or Settings app. You can also use the uninstaller that comes with 7-Zip. You can find it in the Start menu or in the installation folder of 7-Zip. Just run it and follow the instructions to remove 7-Zip from your computer.
How can I open an archive file that is not supported by 7-Zip?
If you encounter an archive file that is not supported by 7-Zip, you can try to use another file compression tool that can handle that format. For example, you can use WinRAR, PeaZip, Bandizip, or Universal Extractor. You can also search online for a converter or a decoder that can convert or decode that format to a supported one.
How can I contact the developer of 7-Zip?
If you have any questions, feedback, suggestions, or bug reports about 7-Zip, you can contact the developer of 7-Zip by email at to join the discussion with other users and developers.
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