Format at a glance
- Full name
- 7-Zip Archive Format
- File extensions
- .7z
- MIME types
- application/x-7z-compressed
- Category
- Archives
- Compression
- Lossless
- Transparency
- Not applicable
- Animation
- Not applicable
- Properties
- Format can be encrypted
Suitable tools
What is this format?
A 7Z archive is a container that bundles files and folders. LZMA or LZMA2 are common, while the format can also store other compression and filter methods.
Solid compression can process similar files together very efficiently. Extracting one item may then require decoding a larger solid block.
What is it used for?
- Compact download and backup archives
- Software packages containing many similar files
- Encrypted file exchange
- Long-term storage when compatible extractors are available
Which programs can open it?
- 7-Zip
- PeaZip and NanaZip
- Keka and The Unarchiver
- p7zip on Linux
Support across devices and browsers
Windows handles 7Z either natively or through archive tools such as 7-Zip.
Finder, Disk Utility or applications such as Keka open suitable 7Z files on macOS.
Linux provides command-line and desktop tools for 7Z; exact read and write support depends on the format.
File managers and archive apps may open 7Z, but support differs between applications.
Files handles some archives natively; 7Z may require a separate application.
Browsers do not display 7Z as a document. LocalFileLab uses local WebAssembly for supported operations.
Advantages
- Often compresses better than classic ZIP
- AES-256 encryption and solid archives
- Open format specification
Disadvantages
- Not universally supported by operating systems
- Solid archives can slow selective extraction
- Damage may affect larger solid blocks
Comparison with alternatives
ZIP is more universally compatible; 7Z normally creates smaller archives for many data sets.
RAR offers similar convenience features but is tied more closely to proprietary tools.
TAR bundles files and is commonly compressed separately with GZIP or Zstandard.
LocalFileLab support
7Z is recognized as an input. Archive structure and contained files are processed locally.
7Z is available as a local output; available settings depend on the format.
LocalFileLab can compress 7Z locally or package it in a supported archive; already compressed content will not necessarily become smaller.
A complete 7Z preview is not currently available.
Complete preservation of format-specific metadata is not guaranteed.
Related formats
Frequently asked questions
Can Windows open 7Z directly?
Support varies by Windows version. 7-Zip or NanaZip remains the more reliable option for the complete 7Z feature set.
Is 7Z always smaller than ZIP?
No. Results depend on file types, quantity, solid settings and compression method; already compressed media changes very little.
Can a 7Z archive be encrypted?
Yes. 7Z supports AES-256 and can also encrypt file names when the creating application enables that option.