Where do I get a 7-zip install package that isn't an executable file?

I remember a previous option where you could download a zip file containing everything you need to run 7-zip.

Now all the download page has is executable files, msi (Microsoft installer framework for Windows), and .7z packages of extras.

Where's the option to "install from extracted zip file"?

4 Answers

So you want to avoid having to install it? Luckily the installer exe is just a 7z file bundled with an unpacker so you can just extract it.

First go to and download the exe for the latest version (). Also you should download the command line version of 7zip 9.2 which you can get as a zip ().

After unpacking 7za920.zip you can extract 7z1801-x64.exe from the command line with 7za x -o7zip 7z1801-x64.exe

No need to ask for help.

Go to the website and download 7-Zip:

Then install it. By default the program installs to %ProgramFiles%\7-Zip.

After that, you just copy (or archive) everything from that directory, which can be used as a "standalone" archiver. Thing you'll lose from that are system integration features like the right-click menu items and file type association.

I guess you want the "portable" version of the program, that is one that can even be executed once burned on a CD. You can find many of them at the portable apps site.
For the 7zip program, the >instructions say that you still have to "install" it once to extract the program parts and set the configuration file how you want, but that the resulting executable (and its config file) can then be redistributed as it is

Here is what I did,

1. downloaded their oldest command line archive (7-Zip 9.20 (2010-11-18) for Windows)
2. the latest 7-Zip 19.00 (2019-02-21) for Windows (.exe) version.
3. The zip can be opened with normal Windows Explorer, and copied the 7za.exe to a different folder
4. Open the command prompt run <path to 7za.exe> x <path to the latest .exe> that unpacks the exe
5. Now you can run the GUI version from path where you have extracted (your current folder).

To all others who is asking about the need for this.. The exe or the msi are packaged as installers, which require admin access on windows. The actual 7zip file manager does not need admin access as long as you want to run as an app and don't worry about adding explorer context menus. Previously they used to publish a simple zip with all artifacts, which can be run as standard user. Now you need to go through this procedure to get it.