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Independent Community Guide

Download 7-Zip — Free Open-Source File Archiver

Download 7-Zip free for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The latest version supports 30+ formats including 7z, ZIP, RAR, TAR, and ISO — no cost, no ads, open source.

Trusted by millions worldwide since 1999

26.02
Latest Version
30+
Formats
1.5MB
Installer Size
100%
Free

Download 7-Zip — Choose Your Version

Select the right 7-Zip download for your operating system. All builds are free, ad-free, and digitally signed. Windows 64-bit is recommended for most users.

Looking for older releases? Visit the 7-Zip version history page for all past downloads and release notes. Need help? Check the install guide.

Why Download 7-Zip?

7-Zip is the most downloaded free file archiver — here is why millions choose it over paid alternatives.

Highest Compression Ratio

The 7z format with LZMA2 achieves 30–50% better compression than ZIP, significantly reducing file sizes for storage and transfer.

AES-256 Encryption

Protect archives with military-grade AES-256 encryption. Optional filename encryption keeps file names and contents completely private.

30+ File Format Support

Extract ISO, DMG, TAR, GZIP, CAB, VHD and dozens more. Create 7z, ZIP, TAR, GZIP, and XZ archives with a single free download.

100% Free & Open Source

No trials, no nag screens, no cost ever. Licensed under GNU LGPL — use 7-Zip freely in personal and commercial environments.

Fast & Lightweight

The 7-Zip installer is under 1.5 MB. Multi-threaded compression uses all CPU cores for maximum speed with minimal system overhead.

Trusted for 25+ Years

Actively maintained since 1999 with regular releases. Millions of users worldwide rely on 7-Zip for daily compression and extraction tasks.

Supported Formats

Open and create archives in 30+ formats

Pack / Unpack (Create & Extract)

Unpack Only (Extract)

.apfs.ar.arj.cab.chm.cpio.cramfs.dmg.ext.fat.gpt.hfs.ihex.iso.lzh.lzma.mbr.msi.nsis.ntfs.qcow2.rar.rpm.squashfs.udf.uefi.vdi.vhd.vhdx.vmdk.xar.z

Latest Version Info

7-Zip 26.02
Latest Version
26.02
Release Date
2026-06-25
Developer
Igor Pavlov
License
GNU LGPL + BSD 3-clause + unRAR
File Size
~1.6 MB
Compatibility
Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista/XP

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the most common questions

How do I download 7-Zip?

To download 7-Zip, choose the installer for your system above — Windows 64-bit (.exe) is the most common choice. Click the download link, run the installer, and 7-Zip will be ready in seconds. The 7-Zip download is free and requires no registration. For Linux, use your package manager (apt install p7zip-full on Debian/Ubuntu). For macOS, install via Homebrew (brew install sevenzip).

Is 7-Zip free?

Yes. 7-Zip is 100% free open-source software licensed under the GNU LGPL. You can use it on any computer, including commercial environments, without paying anything. There is no trial period, no nag screens, and no feature limitations.

Is 7-Zip safe?

Yes, 7-Zip is completely safe when downloaded from the official website (7-zip.org) or the official GitHub releases page (github.com/ip7z/7zip). It is open source, meaning its code is publicly auditable. Always verify the SHA-256 hash of downloaded files and avoid third-party download sites that may bundle malware.

Is 7-Zip open source?

Yes. 7-Zip is open-source software. The main code is licensed under the GNU LGPL, with some components under the BSD 3-clause license. The unRAR code is under a restricted license that allows free use but not re-distribution of the code. The source code is available on GitHub.

Can 7-Zip open RAR files?

Yes. 7-Zip can fully extract RAR and RAR5 archives, including multi-volume (split) RAR files and password-protected RAR files. However, 7-Zip cannot create RAR files due to the proprietary nature of the RAR format. For creating RAR files, you would need WinRAR.

Can 7-Zip create RAR files?

No. 7-Zip cannot create RAR files because the RAR format is proprietary. The unRAR license allows extraction but not creation. For most use cases, the 7z format provides equal or better compression and is completely free. If you specifically need RAR, use the official WinRAR software.

Can 7-Zip open ISO files?

Yes. 7-Zip can open and extract files from ISO disc images without needing to mount or burn them. This is useful for retrieving individual files from installation media or software distributions.