: Achieves 30–70% better compression than ZIP format in many cases.
Windows 11 recently added native support for extracting 7z files, but you still need the 7-Zip software for advanced features like encryption or higher compression levels. Right-click the .7z file. Select Show more options > 7-Zip . Show.7z
: Supports any compression or encryption method and handles Unicode filenames natively. How to Use 7-Zip on Windows 11 : Achieves 30–70% better compression than ZIP format
A 7z file is a highly compressed archive format that typically uses the to achieve significantly smaller file sizes than standard ZIP files. Created by Igor Pavlov for the 7-Zip utility, it is open-source and widely used for its robust encryption and ability to handle massive files up to 16 billion GB. Why Use 7-Zip (7z)? Select Show more options > 7-Zip