.7z
Archives · application/x-7z-compressed
Opens with
Several files bundled into one and squeezed smaller. Until you extract it, you only see the list of what is inside.
| MIME type | application/x-7z-compressed |
|---|---|
| Category | Archives |
| Opens in a browser | No |
| Plain text | No |
| Registered type | Unofficial (x-) |
How to read this
- An extension is a label, not the contents. Rename a file to .png and if the bytes inside are JPEG, it is still a JPEG.
- A MIME type is how the internet names a file kind. Browsers look at that value, not the extension, to decide whether to display or download.
- A MIME type starting with x- was never registered as a standard. Plenty are in wide use, but they are not official names.
- Video extensions name a container. The same .mp4 may play on one device and not another, depending on the codec inside.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What is a .7z file?
It belongs to the archives category and its MIME type is application/x-7z-compressed. The contents are binary, so opening it in a text editor shows garbage.
Q. What opens a .7z file?
7-Zip, The Unarchiver, Keka all handle it. In a browser it does not display — the browser downloads it instead.
Q. What is the MIME type of .7z?
application/x-7z-compressed. The first half, application, names the broad kind; the second half, x-7z-compressed, names the exact format. It starts with x-, which means it was never registered as a standard.
Q. Can I convert a .7z file to another format?
Yes — open it and re-save through a converter. Renaming alone changes only the label; the bytes stay put, and programs that check the real format may refuse to open it.
Q. My .7z file will not open.
First check that 7-Zip is installed. If it still fails, the download may have been cut short, or the file may only be named .7z while holding a different format inside.