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How to Compress Files with 7-Zip

Follow these steps in order to compress files with 7-Zip.

  1. Select the files or folder to compress

    Select the files or folder you want to compress in File Explorer.

  2. Right-click and find the "7-Zip" menu

    Right-click the selected items and a "7-Zip" submenu will appear.

  3. Click "Add to archive"

    Choose "Add to archive" from the submenu to open the detailed options window.

  4. Set the format (zip/7z) and password, then confirm

    Choose the format you want, enter a password if needed, then click OK to start compressing.

Shrink large files further than the built-in tool

7-Zip is free to use and generally achieves a higher compression ratio than the compression built into Windows, while also supporting formats beyond ZIP, such as 7z and RAR, so it can shrink large files down even more.

Password-protect sensitive archives

Setting a password when compressing gives you an extra layer of protection for sensitive files, though it's worth noting that a forgotten password on an encrypted archive generally cannot be recovered, so store it somewhere safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I choose zip or 7z?

Choose zip if compatibility with other people's software matters most, since nearly every program supports it; choose 7z if you want the highest possible compression ratio.

How do I extract a compressed file?

Right-click the archive, choose the "7-Zip" menu, and select "Extract Here" to decompress it into the same folder.