How To Compress and Extract RAR/7Z Files on Windows 11 and 10

Somehow, Windows support for extra archive formats is still a pain in the butt

Windows has been playing the built-in ZIP game since Windows XP, which is basically ancient news now. But if you’re dealing with formats like RAR, 7z, or TAR, you might’ve noticed that Microsoft’s out-of-the-box support is kinda lacking unless you’re on Windows 11 Insider Build 23466 / 23H2. And even then, it’s mostly thanks to the open-source libarchive library, which themers like 7-Zip leverage quite well. But for everything else—especially if you’re stuck on Windows 10 or earlier Windows 11—you’re probably still stuck with third-party tools like WinRAR, 7-Zip, or PeaZip. Trust me, unless you’re willing to wait for a Windows update to natively handle more formats, those tools remain crucial.

Quick Reference: Which Tool Opens Which Format?

Archive type Built-in (Win 11 23H2+) Windows 10 / older Notes
.zip ✔ ✔ (since XP) No extra software necessary
.rar ✔ ❌ Use WinRAR or 7-Zip Note: Password-protected RAR5 files are only openable with WinRAR 5.0+
.7z ✔ ❌ Use 7-Zip Supports over 50 formats including TAR and ISO
.tar /.gz ✔ ❌ Use 7-Zip or PeaZip Common in Linux and macOS downloads

How to Compress Files in Windows

Method 1: Right-click “Send to → Compressed (zipped) folder”

  • Select files or folders, then right-click and pick Send to → Compressed (zipped) folder. Easy, right? Well, yeah, but it’s kinda basic and only deals with ZIP files.
  • Windows will name the archive after whatever you clicked. Want something better? Hit F2 or right-click and choose Rename. On Windows 11, you might need to click Show more options or press Shift+F10 to get that classic menu.
  • The ZIP will pop up in the same folder. Just like that, no extra software needed.

Method 2: Use the File Explorer Ribbon “Share › Zip”

This one’s handy if you’re tired of the context menu. Inside a normal File Explorer window (not on the Desktop or Quick Access), :

  • Pick a file or folder.
  • Click the Share tab on the Ribbon and select Zip. If you don’t see it, maybe hit the little arrow to expand options.
  • Type a new name or hit Enter when done. Easy enough.

How to Decompress (Unzip) Files

Security tip: Always scan downloaded archives with Windows Security (right-click → Scan with Microsoft Defender) before opening. Malware still gets hidden in ZIPs, RARs, or 7z files, unfortunately.

Method 1: Extract All…

  1. Right-click the ZIP file and pick Extract All…
  2. Select a folder to dump the contents or keep the default location, then click Extract.
  3. It usually takes just a second or two. The files are now accessible.

Method 2: Use WinRAR for RAR, ZIP & more

  • Download WinRAR from the official site. Tip: Choose 64-bit if your system’s a beast—check Settings › System › About › System type.
  • During setup, tick off the archive formats you want it to handle. After that, you can tweak associations in Options › Settings › Integration.
  • Right-click an archive and pick actions like Extract Here or Extract to <Folder>.

Method 3: Use 7-Zip for almost everything else

  • Grab the latest build from 7-Zip.org. If your PC’s 64-bit, go for the 64-bit MSI installer, no brainer.
  • Right-click the archive and choose 7-Zip › Open archive for a quick peek or pick one of the Extract options.

Method 4: Drag-and-Drop for quick selective extraction

  1. Double-click the archive to open it in your favorite archive explorer (File Explorer, WinRAR, or 7-Zip).
  2. Resize or move that window near your desktop or target folder.
  3. Select whatever files or folders you want, then drag them out and drop where you want. Done, no fuss.

But heads up: changes made to files after extraction aren’t synced back to the archive. Just because you modify a file doesn’t mean it updates inside the zip—it’s separate.

Wrap-up

Honestly, it’s kinda annoying that Windows doesn’t natively do more with archive formats, especially given how common RAR and 7z files are these days. Until Microsoft gets around to adding those, you’ll be stuck with tools like 7-Zip and WinRAR—both solid choices that cover almost everything. The key is knowing which tool handles which format and how to get it done fast. Meh, that’s what I’ve found anyway—this setup makes life easier, at least in my experience.

Summary

  • Windows handles ZIPs without extra tools, but RAR, 7z, and TAR need third-party software.
  • WinRAR and 7-Zip are the most popular, with good free options.
  • You can compress/decompress via context menus, File Explorer, or command line.
  • Always scan archives before opening—security first!

Wrap-up

Sometimes, the OS just isn’t enough. Having a couple of solid programs like 7-Zip or WinRAR in your toolbox makes a big difference. Not sure why it works sometimes and not others—Windows really likes to keep you guessing. Still, at least these methods are reliable enough to get your files sorted. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone. Fingers crossed this helps.

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