7-Zip
7-Zip is an open-source file archiver created by Igor Pavlov. It is designed to compress and decompress files, featuring its own native 7z format known for high compression ratios, alongside support for many standard archive formats.
github.com · Official website
- ✓ Official source (winget)
- ✓ File is identical to the one the publisher released (SHA256 matched)
- ✓ Last checked: Nov. 4, 2026
- This is not a virus scan. Check on VirusTotal
- Version
- 26.05
- Release date
- Oct. 21, 2026
- License
- LGPL-2.1
- Installer type
- exe
How do I use this?
Type Terminal in the Start menu and open it, paste the command (Ctrl+V or right-click) and press Enter. It uses winget, Windows' own package manager, to install the program from its official source.
winget install --id 7zip.7zip -eSHA256 (file verification)
fd99e86f57d8f429ef5ed045bf98315af962e2309b0f1ba87a147a44c71647d0We couldn't find a macOS version of 7-Zip in the official repositories; check the publisher's website.
We couldn't find a Linux version of 7-Zip in the official repositories; check the publisher's website.
You can try these instead:
We couldn't find a Android version of 7-Zip in the official repositories; check the publisher's website.
Platform pages: Windows · macOS · Linux · Android
Old versions (10)
Security update: according to the publisher's release notes, 7-Zip 26.05 fixes security vulnerabilities. If you use an older version, update.
Official release notes →
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has confirmed that these vulnerabilities in older versions of 7-Zip were used in real attacks. Keep the program up to date:
- CVE-2025-0411 – 7-Zip Mark of the Web Bypass Vulnerability (Feb. 6, 2025)
7-Zip 26.05: what's new?
Highlights
- High compression ratio in native 7z format
- Strong AES-256 encryption for secure file protection
- Windows Shell context menu integration
- Support for packing and unpacking formats like ZIP, TAR, GZIP, and XZ
Who is it for?
7-Zip is intended for users who need to compress large files to save storage space or extract archives in various formats. It is commonly used by system administrators, developers, and general PC users managing file archives on Windows.
Good to know before installing
- Official support with a graphical user interface is limited to Windows platforms.
- The default user interface is plain and minimalist compared to modern file managers.
- Compression speeds for high-ratio formats like 7z can be slower and more resource-intensive than standard ZIP compression.
How to install
Windows
- Click the official download button on our page to get the installer.
- Open the downloaded setup file and choose the installation directory.
- Click Install to finish setting up 7-Zip on your system.
Alternatives
Frequently asked questions
Is 7-Zip free for commercial use?
Yes, 7-Zip is open source under the LGPL license and can be used on any computer, including commercial systems.
Which file formats can 7-Zip create?
7-Zip can create archives in 7z, ZIP, TAR, GZIP, BZIP2, XZ, and WIM formats.
Does 7-Zip support password protection?
Yes, it supports AES-256 encryption to protect archives with passwords.