7z to ZIP Converter

Q: Is a password-protected ZIP as safe as a 7z?

With **Encryption** on AES-256 the contents are protected with the same cipher 7z uses. One difference remains: ZIP leaves file names visible even when the contents are encrypted, so do not put sensitive details in the names.

A .7z file packs tighter than a ZIP, but the person receiving it often has nothing that can open it. Repack the 7z as a ZIP and it opens with the tools already built into their computer or phone.

or drop ZIP, ZIPX, RAR … files here ·

Max 95 MB per file· Up to 20 files· Deleted after 30 minutes

Output

Convert to

Compression

Files are processed on our servers and deleted after 30 minutes.

How to use this tool

1
Upload the .7z file
Drop the archive, up to 20 files of 95 MB each. If it asks for a password in 7-Zip, enter it in Current password under Advanced settings.
2
Choose compression
Compression starts on Normal. Pick Maximum for documents and code, or Store for photos and videos that will not shrink further.
3
Convert to ZIP
Press Convert to ZIP and download it. The 7z and the ZIP are deleted from the server after 30 minutes.

7z is a great format for storing files and an awkward one for sending them. ZIP is the reverse.

Why convert 7z to ZIP

Igor Pavlov released 7-Zip in 1999 together with the 7z format and its LZMA compression, later joined by LZMA2. The program is free, open source and popular for backups and software downloads, because 7z archives with solid compression often come out well below a ZIP of the same files.

The catch is on the other end. ZIP has been readable by Windows since Windows XP and by macOS since 2003, and the iPhone Files app opens it with a tap. A 7z, on the other hand, needs 7-Zip, Keka, The Unarchiver or a similar app on most systems, and many school and office computers do not allow installing software. Upload portals that ask for a ZIP usually reject a 7z outright.

Repacking solves all of that without touching the contents. If the archive you received is a RAR rather than a 7z, RAR to ZIP does the same job.

ZIP compression levels when repacking a 7z

Recommended

StoreFastNormalMaximum

Store
No compression; fastest, for photos and videos.
Fast
Light compression for mixed folders.
Normal
Default; good balance for documents.
Maximum
Smallest ZIP for text, code and spreadsheets.

7Z

7-Zip archive

7Z is the open archive format of 7-Zip, created by Igor Pavlov in 1999. Its LZMA and LZMA2 compression usually produce smaller archives than ZIP or RAR, and it supports AES-256 encryption and very large files. It is common for software distribution and large downloads. Windows, macOS and phones need an extra app such as 7-Zip, Keka or a file manager to open it.

Compression: Lossless
Transparency: –
Animation: –
Introduced: 1999 · Igor Pavlov

7Z converter

ZIP

ZIP archive

ZIP is a lossless archive format created by Phil Katz of PKWARE in 1989. It bundles many files and folders into one compressed file, and Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android can open it without extra software. ZIP is also the container behind DOCX, XLSX, EPUB, APK and JAR files. Its standard compression is fast but less efficient than 7z, and the old ZipCrypto password protection is weak.

Compression: Lossless
Transparency: –
Animation: –
Introduced: 1989 · Phil Katz (PKWARE)

ZIP converter

7z to ZIP trades a few percent of compression for universal opening: the recipient double-clicks instead of hunting for 7-Zip, which matters most when sending to clients, teachers or upload portals.

What you gain and give up going from 7z to ZIP

What ZIP gives you

Opens on Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and Chromebook with no app
Accepted by upload forms that list .zip only
AES-256 passwords still available
Any single file can be extracted quickly

What 7z had that ZIP lacks

Solid compression across files
Encrypted file names
LZMA2's higher ratio on text and code
Very large dictionary sizes for big backups

AES-256 or ZipCrypto for a converted 7z

7z encrypts with AES-256 only. ZIP offers two methods, and the difference matters. ZipCrypto, the original ZIP encryption from the early 1990s, was shown to be breakable with a known-plaintext attack by Eli Biham and Paul Kocher in 1994, and tools to do it are freely available. AES-256 in ZIP follows the extension WinZip introduced and is opened by 7-Zip, WinRAR and most current unzip apps.

Keep Encryption on AES-256 unless the recipient's unzip program cannot read it. For tips on opening the result on each device, see how to unzip files on any device.

7z to ZIP questions

Why is the ZIP larger than the 7z it came from?

7z normally uses LZMA2 with solid compression, treating many files as one stream so repeated content is stored once. ZIP compresses each file on its own with Deflate. Folders of text, logs or source code can grow noticeably; folders of JPGs, MP4s or PDFs barely change because those are already compressed.

My 7z asks for a password before it even shows the file list. Can it be converted?

Yes, with the password. 7-Zip can encrypt the file names as well as the contents, so nothing is readable until the password is entered. Type it in Current password and the archive is unlocked, repacked and, if you set a New password, locked again as a ZIP.

Is a password-protected ZIP as safe as a 7z?

With Encryption on AES-256 the contents are protected with the same cipher 7z uses. One difference remains: ZIP leaves file names visible even when the contents are encrypted, so do not put sensitive details in the names.

Can I open a 7z file on a Mac or iPhone without converting it?

Only with an extra app on most devices. Windows 11 gained built-in 7z extraction in its 2023 update, but older Windows versions, many work laptops and iPhones without third-party apps expect ZIP. Our unzip online tool also extracts 7z directly if you just want the files.

Does converting change the files inside?

No. Each file is unpacked and packed again bit for bit. With Keep file dates on, the modified dates stay as they were, and Folder layout on Keep folders preserves the directory tree.

Which compression level should I pick for a 7z full of photos?

Store or Fast. Photos and videos are already compressed, so Maximum spends time without saving space, and Store makes the ZIP almost instantly.