Windows 11 to Include Native Support for 7-Zip and RAR File Formats
Microsoft has announced that the upcoming Windows 11 22H2 update will include native support for 7-Zip and RAR file formats. Previously, users had to rely on third-party apps or programs to handle these archive file formats. According to BleepingComputer, this update will also enable Windows 11 to support other archive file formats such as Tar and GZ archives.
To access this new feature, users will need to install the optional KB5031455 Preview cumulative update. They can do this by going to Settings, then Windows Update, and selecting “Check for Updates.” Once the update is found, they can click “Download and install.”
With this update, Windows 11 will be able to handle a variety of archive file types, including .rar, .7z, .tar, .tar.gz, .tar.bz2, .tar.zst, .tar.xz, .tgz, .tbz2, .tzst, and .txz. However, password-encrypted files are not covered in this update, but Microsoft is expected to address this in the future.
The announcement about native support for these file formats was made during the Build 2023 conference. Microsoft collaborated with the open-source libarchive project to enable this functionality. It is also possible that Windows 11 will support other file formats such as LZH and XAR in the future.
This update is especially welcome for Windows users who frequently work with ZIP, 7-Zip, and RAR files. Windows has had native system support for ZIP files since 1998, and now with the native support for 7-Zip, RAR, and gz files, users will no longer need to install additional applications to handle these file formats.
Users who wish to access this new capability for Windows 11 can manually install the update or wait for the scheduled Windows 11 cumulative update in November. Additionally, the Moment 4 update will bring a range of other features to Windows 11, including a revamped File Explorer, a renewed Backup app, a new Passkey Manager, and the highly anticipated Windows Copilot.
Overall, the addition of native support for 7-Zip and RAR files in Windows 11 will make managing and using these file formats much easier for users. They can look forward to a seamless experience without the need for third-party apps or programs.
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