How to Open 7z Files: PC, Mac, Android, iPhone, ChromeOS

If you’ve come across a file that ends in .7z, you’re probably wondering how to open it. These files, known as “7z” or “7-Zip” files, are archives of one or more files in one compressed package. Both Windows PCs and Mac computers support opening 7z files without installing extra software, but if you have a Chromebook, you'll need to install an extension like Zip Extractor. If you have an iPhone, iPad, or Android, you can use a free app like iZip on your mobile phone or tablet. This wikiHow article will teach you the easiest way to open 7z files on any computer, phone, or tablet.

Opening 7-Zip Files: Overview

Windows: You can open most 7z files in File Explorer. If the file has a password, use 7-Zip or WinZip.
Mac: You can open most .7z files in Finder. If the file is encrypted, use The Unarchiver or WinZip.
Mobile: On an Android, iPhone, or iPad, install iZip from the App Store or Play Store.
Chromebook: Install Zip Extractor from the Chrome Web Store.

Method 1

Method 1 of 7:

Using File Explorer for Windows

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Right-click the 7z file and select Extract All…. As of a late 2023 update, Windows 11 now supports extracting 7z files without installing additional software.^{[1]
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- Windows 11's built-in 7z extractor doesn't support password-protected files. If your 7z file is encrypted, jump to Using 7-Zip instead.
If you want to extract the files to the same folder as the 7z file, no need to make any changes. If you want to choose a different location, click the Browse… button to do so now.

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This extracts the 7z file to the selected folder.

Method 2

Method 2 of 7:

Using 7-Zip for Windows

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Download the 7-Zip installer from 7-zip.org. Because 7z files are compressed archives, you can’t view their contents until the files are extracted with an unzipping program. 7-Zip can extract the contents of 7z archives at no cost to Windows users.
- To download 7-Zip, click the Download link next to the version that matches your Windows PC's architecture (e.g., 32-bit or 64-bit). If you're not sure which version to choose:
  - Press ⊞ Win+S to launch search
  - Type “system” and click System in the search results
  - Look next to “System Type”.^{[2]
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    Technical support and product information from Microsoft.
    
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- 7-Zip is also great for highly compressing files.
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Double-click the 7-Zip .exe and follow the on-screen instructions. This will walk you through the 7-Zip installation.
- When the installation is complete, click Finish.
The contents of the archive will display in the 7-Zip window.^{[3]
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It's the blue minus sign in the toolbar.^{[4]
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Click the … button to choose a folder to store the files. The folder you select is where the files inside the 7z archive will be extracted.
- The default selection is a new folder in the current directory, named after the 7z file.
- For example, if the file is called Blue.7z and located on the desktop, the default new folder will be created on the desktop with the name “Blue”.
You’ll see a progress bar for the duration of the extraction process. When the files are extracted, the progress bar will disappear. At that point, you can double-click the new folder to access the files.

Method 3

Method 3 of 7:

Using Mac Archive Utility

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Archive Utility is Mac’s built-in archive file app. It can compress files and unzip 7z folders just like ZIP files.
A list of menu options will appear.
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Select Archive Utility. This option is in the file’s right-click menu. This extracts the folder from the 7z file to the current location.
- You can now double-click the new folder to view the 7z file’s contents.
- If the 7z file has a password, use The Unarchiver to open it.

Method 4

Method 4 of 7:

Using Unarchiver for Mac

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Install Unarchiver from the App Store. You can use this handy free app to unpack all sorts of compressed files, including 7z files.^{[5]
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- Once you've opened the App Store, search for "unarchiver" and then click GET.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install.
- Mac's built-in Archive Utility can also open 7z files. If you'd rather not install software, you can use that feature instead.
Just click the file once to select it.
A window will expand.^{[6]
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This tells your Mac to use Unarchiver to extract 7z files in the future.^{[7]
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Now that Unarchiver is associated with 7z files, all you'll need to do to extract them is double-click the file.^{[8]
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This extracts the file's contents to the current directory.

Method 5

Method 5 of 7:

Using iZip for Mobile

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Install iZip from the App Store (iPhone/iPad) or Play Store (Android). iZip is recommended across the web for being able to extract 7z files on Android, iPhone, and iPad.^{[9]
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- If you need help installing apps on your phone or tablet, check out our handy guide.
Once iZip is installed, you'll find it in your app list.
Alternatively, if you're using an Android phone or tablet and have saved the 7z file to an SD card, select SD card.
You'll be asked if you want to unzip all the files.^{[10]
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Tap OK to open the 7z file. The contents of the 7z file will be extracted to a folder of the same name.
- When the progress bar disappears, you can open the files by tapping them inside of iZip, or by navigating to the folder which contains them.

Method 6

Method 6 of 7:

Using a Chromebook

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Install Zip Extractor for ChromeOS. Unfortunately, your Chromebook doesn't support opening 7z files without installing extra software.^{[11]
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Research source} Fortunately, there are plenty of options for 7z file extractors, including this free option called Zip Extractor.^{[12]
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- Open the Chrome Web Store and search for "zip extractor".
- Click Zip Extractor in your search results.
- Click Add to Chrome.
Once the extension is installed, you can open it by clicking the puzzle piece icon at the upper-right corner of Chrome and selecting Zip Extractor.
Click the icon at the center and select your 7z file. If you downloaded the file from the internet, it'll usually be in your Downloads folder. Alternatively, if you have the 7z file in your Google Drive, you can click the G icon at the top and select it from there.
This will prompt you to save the unzipped files to your Chromebook.
Select a location, then follow the on-screen instructions to save the files and folders inside the 7z file.

Method 7

Method 7 of 7:

Using WinZip (Windows & Mac)[TOC:WinZip (PC & Mac)

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Download WinZip from www.winzip.com. WinZip is a premium program (with a free trial) that makes it easy to open 7z files on your PC or Mac. To download a trial, click the TRY IT FREE button to download the installer.^{[13]
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This will walk you through the installation process.
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Double-click the 7z file. This opens the contents of the file in WinZip.
- If prompted to choose an application, select WinZip.
- If the 7z file opens in a different application, right-click the 7z file instead and select Open with > WinZip.
You'll see this on the right side of the screen.^{[14]
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The location you select is where the extracted files and folders from the 7z file will appear once unpacked.
This extracts all files and folders from the 7z file to the selected location.

Community Q&A

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Question

Is there a way to unzip them with terminal/homebrew?

Arrogance

Top Answerer

Yes. Install p7zip with 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝟳𝘇𝗶𝗽. Then extract using 𝟳𝘇 𝗲 .

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If you’re looking to make large files smaller, check out our guide for compressing large files.

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The file size of the 7z may be smaller than the folder created by the decompression process. This is normal—the reason why people compress files in this format is to create a single file with a smaller size that is easily transferable.

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Most programs that can unzip 7z files can also create them.

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