How to Open 7z Files in Windows 11

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Summary: Learn how to open and extract 7z files on Windows 11 using built-in and third-party tools. Discover step-by-step instructions for accessing and managing 7z archives efficiently.
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Windows 11, like its predecessors, does not natively support opening or extracting 7z files directly from File Explorer. However, there are several ways to handle 7z files on your Windows 11 PC. Here's how you can do it:

Using Third-Party Software

Install 7-Zip:

Download and install 7-Zip, a popular free and open-source file archiver.

Visit the 7-Zip website, download the appropriate version for Windows 11 (32-bit or 64-bit), and follow the installation instructions.

Open 7z Files:

Once installed, right-click on the 7z file you want to open.

Choose "7-Zip" from the context menu.

Select either "Extract Here" to extract the contents to the current directory or "Extract to [folder name]" to specify a different extraction location.

Using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

Enable WSL:

If you're comfortable with using Linux commands, you can enable Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on Windows 11.

Install a Linux distribution such as Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store.

Use Command Line:

Open the WSL terminal (e.g., Ubuntu) from the Start menu.

Navigate to the directory containing your 7z file using the cd command.

Use the p7zip package to extract the contents. Install it using sudo apt install p7zip-full if not already installed.

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Using Other Archiving Software

Apart from 7-Zip, you can also use alternative file archivers that support 7z files, such as WinRAR or WinZip. These tools often come with a trial period or require a purchase for full functionality.

Conclusion

Windows 11 doesn't directly support opening 7z files out of the box, but with the help of third-party software like 7-Zip or utilizing Linux capabilities through WSL, you can easily manage and extract the contents of 7z archives on your Windows 11 PC.