Frequently Asked Question

7-Zip is a free program that opens compressed files like .zip and .7z so you can get the files out of them. Here's how to install it and unzip a file on your Windows computer.

Install 7-Zip

1. Open your web browser (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox) and go to 7-zip.org.
2. On the download page, choose the version that matches your computer. For most newer Windows 11 computers this is the 64-bit Windows version. If you're not sure, the 64-bit Windows version is the safe choice for modern PCs.
3. Click the Download link next to that version. The installer file will save to your Downloads folder.
4. Open your Downloads folder and double-click the file you just downloaded (its name starts with "7z").
5. If Windows asks "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?", click Yes.
6. In the 7-Zip Setup window, click Install, then click Close when it finishes.

Extract (unzip) a file

1. Find the compressed file you want to open. It will end in .zip or .7z and usually shows a small box or folder icon.
2. Right-click the file once.
3. In the menu, hover over 7-Zip to open its options. (On Windows 11, you may first need to click "Show more options" at the bottom of the menu to see the 7-Zip entry.)
4. Click "Extract Here". 7-Zip will place the files right next to the original compressed file, in the same folder.
5. If you'd rather keep the files together in their own folder, choose "Extract to [name]\" instead. This creates a new folder named after the file and puts everything inside it.
6. Open the new files or folder to use your extracted files.

Tips

• "Extract Here" puts the files in the same folder as the .zip; "Extract to [name]" makes a tidy new folder. Use the second option when a zip contains many files, so they don't scatter.
• If the file was password-protected, 7-Zip will ask you to type the password before it can extract.
• Always download 7-Zip from 7-zip.org only. Avoid other download sites, which may bundle unwanted software.

If you're still having trouble, contact the Jersey College Help Desk at 201-645-1164 or itsupport@jerseycollege.edu.