WinZip file 
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Note: The archive file types described in this article are all supported in the latest version of WinZip. If you have an earlier version of WinZip, the Table of file formats supported by WinZip can be used to determine what archive file types your version supports. |
Zip files are found almost anywhere and are a dominant archive type of file on the Internet. However, there are many other archive and compressed file formats that you may occasionally encounter. WinZip provides support for the most commonly found archive and compression formats.
| Zipx is an archive format used by WinZip to show that a Zip file was created using one of WinZip's advanced compression methods. This makes it clear to others that WinZip 12.1 or later (or another compatible compression utility) will be required to open the file. |
| 7Z is a compression and archiving format. WinZip can extract 7Z files, but not create them. |
| RAR is a compression and archiving format. WinZip can extract RAR files, but not create them. |
| BZ2 files are individual files compressed by the bzip program. WinZip supports all operations on bzip files except creating new ones. |
| TAR ("Tape ARchive") is an old file format that is used to group files together. It does not provide compression. WinZip supports all operations on TAR files except creating new TAR files and adding to TAR files. |
| Z and GZ are individual files compressed by the gzip program. Z and GZ files do not contain multiple files. WinZip supports all operations on gzip files except creating new ones. |
| TAZ and TGZ are TAR files compressed in Z or GZ format. WinZip supports all operations on TAZ/TGZ files except creating new ones. |
| LHA and LZH provide both compression and grouping. WinZip 11.2 and later include integrated support to create and extract LHA and LZH files. WinZip 11.1 and earlier supports all operations on LHA and LZH files but requires the external LHA program. |
| CAB is a format used by Microsoft and some other vendors to distribute software. |
UUencoded, XXencoded, BinHex, and MIME files are often used for Internet mail. These formats allow e-mail users to send and receive any file type (graphics, video, audio, games and other programs, application data, etc.) by e-mail. WinZip supports opening and extracting from these files. More information is available in the article
How do I use UUencode/BinHex/MIME support?. |
| ISO and IMG are archive formats that are sometimes also called disk image formats. WinZip can extract from ISO and IMG files, but not create them. |
More information on other archive support is available in the article
Table of file formats supported by WinZip. If you are using WinZip 11.1 or earlier and would like information on the external programs your version supports, see
Where can I find the external programs required for ARC, ARJ, and LHA files?
