7-Zip is a free, open-source file archiver by Igor Pavlov. It creates and opens 7z and ZIP archives, extracts many other formats including RAR, ISO and TAR, and adds a right-click menu to Windows File Explorer. Version 26.03 was released on 3 September 2026.
Who it suits
- Windows users who need to open archives that File Explorer cannot handle.
- Anyone who wants strong compression with the 7z format or AES-256 encrypted archives.
- Administrators who need a small MSI package for deployment.
How to get the official version
- Windows: 7-zip.org/download.html. The site now points its downloads to the official GitHub repository, github.com/ip7z/7zip. Installers exist for x64, 32-bit x86 and ARM64, plus MSI packages.
- Linux and macOS: 7-Zip provides a command-line version (
7zz) only. There is no official graphical 7-Zip for these systems.
There is no official 7-Zip app for Android or iPhone. Apps in mobile stores that use the 7-Zip name are made by other developers.
Cost
Free, including for commercial use. The 7-Zip site says you can use it on any computer, including in a commercial organization, without registering or paying.
Requirements
The home page lists Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP, and Windows Server editions back to 2000. Pick the x64 installer for most modern PCs and the ARM64 installer for Windows on Arm devices.
Safety notes
The domain 7zip.com (no hyphen) is not the official site. In a 2024 reply on the project’s SourceForge tracker, Igor Pavlov wrote that he does not control 7zip.com and advised users not to trust or use it. The official address is 7-zip.org. Compare the SHA-256 hash of your download with the values below; on Windows run Get-FileHash .\7z2603-x64.exe.
Questions
Is 7-Zip safe to use at work?
The license allows commercial use. It is mostly GNU LGPL, with some parts under the BSD 3-clause license and an unRAR restriction on the RAR decompression code.
Can 7-Zip create RAR files?
No. It can extract RAR archives, but the unRAR license does not allow creating them.
Which file should I download?
For a typical 64-bit Windows PC, the 64-bit x64 installer. Use the ARM64 build on Windows on Arm, and the MSI if you deploy software with Group Policy or similar tools.
Can I install 7-Zip with winget?
Yes: winget install 7zip.7zip.
