How to Open .7z Files with 7-Zip in Windows 11

If you have 7-Zip installed on your Windows 11 computer, but it does not show up as an option when you try to open .7z files, do not worry. You can still open these files using 7-Zip, but you need to tell Windows where to find the 7-Zip program.

First, find a .7z file that you want to open and right-click on it. In the menu that appears, select “Open with”. A new window will open with a list of programs. Scroll to the bottom of this list and click on “More apps”.

If 7-Zip is still not on the list, scroll further down and click on the option that says, “Look for another app on this PC.” This will let you search through all the files and programs on your computer.

In the file browser window that opens, go to the folder called “C:\Program Files\7-Zip”. Look for a file named “7zFM.exe”. This is the main 7-Zip program file. Click on this file to select it and then click “Open”.
Now, 7-Zip will open and display the contents of your .7z file. You can now work with the files inside the .7z archive.

After doing this once, 7-Zip should appear as an option in the “Open with” menu in the future when you right-click on .7z files. This will make it easier to open these files with just a couple of clicks.