Right-click the .7z file, select 7-Zip , and choose "Extract files..." or "Extract Here" . Quick Comparison Compression Excellent (30–70% smaller) Speed Fastest Slower (due to high compression) Compatibility Universal (Built into OS) Requires 3rd-party software Encryption Strong (AES-256)

It supports AES-256 encryption , allowing you to password-protect both the file contents and the filenames themselves.

While Windows and other operating systems can't open .7z files natively (like they do with .zip), you can use the free 7-Zip software or other third-party tools like WinZip or Unzip One to manage them.

It uses the LZMA and LZMA2 algorithms, which are highly efficient at squeezing large amounts of data into small packages.

The format can handle incredibly large files, with a theoretical limit of up to 1,600 terabytes .

A file is a compressed archive format created with the open-source software 7-Zip . It is widely used because it offers significantly higher compression ratios than standard .zip files—often 30–70% smaller. Key Features of .7z

Right-click a folder or file, select 7-Zip , and choose "Add to [folder name].7z" .