Convert 7Z to GZ

Understanding 7z and gz file formats

7z is a high-compression archive format developed by 7-Zip. It supports strong AES-256 encryption, solid compression, and can contain multiple files and folders in a single archive. gz (Gzip) is a widely used compression format, primarily for single files, commonly found in Unix and Linux environments. Unlike 7z, gz does not support archiving multiple files by itself; it compresses only one file at a time.

Why convert 7z to gz?

Converting from 7z to gz is often necessary for compatibility with Unix-based systems or software that only supports gzipped files. This conversion is also useful when you need a single compressed file rather than a multi-file archive.

How to convert 7z to gz

Since gz only compresses single files, you must first extract the contents of the 7z archive, then compress the desired file(s) into gz format. Here’s how you can do it:

Using 7-Zip and gzip (Windows, Linux, macOS)

1. Extract the 7z archive using 7-Zip:
   • Right-click the 7z file and select 7-Zip → Extract Here or use the command line: 7z x archive.7z
2. Compress the extracted file(s) to gz format:
   • On Linux/macOS, use the terminal: gzip filename
   • On Windows, use a tool like Gzip for Windows or PeaZip to compress to gz.

Best software for 7z to gz conversion

• 7-Zip (Windows): Free, open-source, supports both extraction and gz compression with plugins.
• PeaZip (Windows, Linux): Free, user-friendly, supports both 7z extraction and gz compression.
• Command-line tools (Linux, macOS): 7z and gzip are pre-installed on most distributions.

Step-by-step example using PeaZip

1. Open PeaZip and navigate to your 7z file.
2. Select the 7z file and click Extract to unpack its contents.
3. Select the file you want to compress, then click Add.
4. Choose GZ as the output format and click OK to create your gz file.

Important notes

• gz format only supports single files. To compress multiple files, first create a tar archive, then gzip it (resulting in a .tar.gz file).
• Always verify the integrity of your files after conversion.