Frequently Asked Question

If you need to email several files at once, or want to lock files behind a password, 7-Zip can bundle them into a single compressed archive and protect it. This guide assumes you already have 7-Zip installed (free from 7-zip.org).

Create the archive

1. Gather the files you want to send into one folder, or select them all together. To select several files, click the first one, then hold the Ctrl key and click each of the others.
2. Right-click the selected file(s) or the folder.
3. In the menu, hover over 7-Zip. (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 "Add to archive...". The 7-Zip window opens.

Choose your settings

1. In the "Archive format" box, choose your format. Choose zip if the person receiving it may not have 7-Zip (zip opens on almost any computer). Choose 7z for the smallest file size, but the recipient will need 7-Zip to open it.
2. The "Archive" box at the top shows the name of the file that will be created. You can type a clearer name here if you like.

Set a password (optional, but recommended for sensitive files)

1. Look at the "Encryption" section on the right side of the window.
2. In the "Enter password" box, type a password. Type the same password again in the "Reenter password" box.
3. If you chose the zip format, leave the encryption method at its default. If you chose the 7z format, you can leave AES-256 selected.
4. Click OK. 7-Zip creates the new archive in the same folder, ready to attach to an email.

Tips and warnings

• There is no way to recover a lost password. If you forget it, the files inside cannot be opened. Write the password down somewhere safe.
• Never send the password in the same email as the file. Send the file in one email and share the password a different way, such as a phone call or a separate message.
• For the strongest protection, use the 7z format. The zip format's password protection is weaker, though still fine for everyday use.
• A password protects the contents, but with the zip format the file names inside may still be visible. Use 7z if even the file names are sensitive.
• Many email systems block certain file types or large attachments. If your email won't send, the Help Desk can suggest another way to share the files.

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