To make 7-Zip the default app for archive files in Windows 11, open the 7-Zip File Manager as administrator, go to Tools > Options > System, click the + buttons to associate 7-Zip with the file types you want (such as .7z, .zip and .rar), and click OK. You can also set it per file type in Settings > Apps > Default apps. After that, double-clicking a .zip or .rar file opens it in 7-Zip.
Below are both methods, how to add 7-Zip to the new Windows 11 right-click menu, and how to switch back to Windows’ built-in zip support.
Before you start
- Install 7-Zip from its official website. Choose the 64-bit x64 version for most PCs, or the ARM64 version for Windows on Arm.
- Windows 11 can open .zip files on its own, and newer versions also open .7z and .rar files. 7-Zip is still useful for faster extraction, more formats and creating .7z archives with passwords.
Method 1: Set file associations in 7-Zip
- Click Start, type 7-Zip File Manager, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator.
- Click Tools > Options.
- On the System tab, you’ll see a list of file types with two columns: the current user and all users.
- Click the + button above a column to associate 7-Zip with all listed types, or click individual types to toggle them.
- Click Apply and OK.
Running as administrator lets 7-Zip change associations for all users. Without it, you can still set them for your own account.
Method 2: Use Windows 11 Default apps
- Open Settings > Apps > Default apps.
- In the search box at the top, type a file type such as .zip and press Enter.
- Click the current app next to it and choose 7-Zip File Manager. If it isn’t listed, click Choose an app on your PC and browse to C:\Program Files\7-Zip\7zFM.exe.
- Click Set default.
- Repeat for .7z, .rar and other formats.
Method 3: Open With for a single file
Right-click an archive, choose Open with > Choose another app, select 7-Zip File Manager, and click Always.
Find 7-Zip in the right-click menu
Windows 11’s shortened right-click menu doesn’t show 7-Zip by default. Click Show more options (or press Shift + F10) to see the full menu with 7-Zip > Extract Here, Add to archive and other commands. In 7-Zip’s Tools > Options > 7-Zip tab, you can choose which commands appear and turn on Cascaded context menu.
Switch back to Windows’ built-in zip
Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for .zip, and choose File Explorer (Windows Explorer). Or uncheck the types in 7-Zip’s System options.
Common file types to associate
| Extension | Format |
|---|---|
| .7z | 7-Zip archive |
| .zip | Standard zip archive |
| .rar | RAR archive (extract only) |
| .tar, .gz, .tgz | Linux and developer archives |
| .iso | Disk images (7-Zip can extract them) |
Be careful with .iso: if you associate it with 7-Zip, double-clicking an ISO opens it in 7-Zip instead of mounting it as a drive in Windows.
Related: password protect a ZIP file in Windows 11.
Related: force delete a file in Windows 11.
Related: Unzip files on Windows 7.
Related: Open a GZ file in Windows.
Frequently asked questions
Why don’t the 7-Zip associations stick?
Run 7-Zip File Manager as administrator, or set defaults in Windows Settings. Windows updates sometimes reset associations.
Can 7-Zip create RAR files?
No. 7-Zip extracts RAR files but creates .7z, .zip and other formats.
Is 7-Zip free?
Yes. 7-Zip is free and open source.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.