Files · Windows 10 and 11
Convert 7Z to ZIP
A 7Z is small, but not everyone can open one: Windows 10 and macOS need an app for it. Open the 7Z in Octoolo and press Convert to ZIP; the ZIP lands next to it, ready to send to anyone.
How to convert 7Z to ZIP
- 1
Open the 7Z
In Files, press Choose an archive… under Extract, or drop it on that box, and press Cancel in the Extract all box. For a split .7z.001 file, open any part.
- 2
Convert
Press Convert to ZIP, and type the password if the 7Z is locked.
- 3
Find the ZIP
Show in folder shows it, beside the 7Z and named after it.
7Z and ZIP compared
| Detail | 7Z | ZIP |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | 7-Zip archive | ZIP archive (PKZIP format) |
| Compression | LZMA2 in solid blocks, usually smaller than ZIP | Deflate in nearly every ZIP; a few tools use others |
| Passwords | AES-256; can hide the file names | ZipCrypto (weak) or AES-256; the file names stay visible |
| Opens in | 7-Zip, WinRAR, Octoolo; File Explorer in Windows 11 since 2023 | Windows and macOS by themselves, and most phones |
| Made by | 7-Zip, Octoolo and many other archivers | Windows, macOS and nearly every archiver |
| Best for | Small backups and downloads | Sending files to anyone |
| Since | 1999, Igor Pavlov (7-Zip) | 1989, Phil Katz (PKWARE) |
Bigger, but easier to open
7Z's LZMA2 compression is tighter than ZIP's Deflate, so the ZIP usually comes out bigger than the 7Z: often a little, sometimes noticeably for text and documents. In exchange, Windows and macOS open it with a double-click. If size matters more than convenience, keep the 7Z and point the other person to a 7Z extractor instead.
A 7Z packed as one solid block is unpacked from start to end once, file after file, straight into the new ZIP: no temporary copy of all the files is made on your disk.
Locked 7Z files
A 7Z locked with a password, names hidden or not, converts once you type the password. The ZIP comes out without a password, so it opens anywhere. To keep the files locked, extract them and compress them into a new ZIP or 7Z with Add a password on: see make a 7Z file.
Octoolo or an online converter?
| Detail | Octoolo | A typical online tool |
|---|---|---|
| Your files | Stay on your computer | Usually uploaded to the site's server |
| Without internet | Works | Does not work |
| File size | No limit | Often capped on free use |
| Watermarks and ads | None | Common on free plans |
| Cost | $4.99 a month, all 17 apps | Free with limits, or a plan per site |
Questions, answered
Does converting change the 7Z?
No. The 7Z stays as it was.
Why is the ZIP bigger than the 7Z?
ZIP's compression is lighter than 7Z's. The files inside are exactly the same.
Can I convert ZIP to 7Z?
Extract the ZIP, then compress the files with 7Z picked under Format.
Can it convert RAR files too?
Yes, the same way: see RAR to ZIP.
7Z to ZIP, and 16 more apps.
Download for Windows7 days free, then from $3.99 a month for all 17 apps. Windows 10 and 11.