ZArchiver

ZArchiver opens to a folder list rather than a start screen full of shortcuts. The path at the top tells you exactly where you are on the phone, so it is easier to unpack a downloaded archive into the right directory. The developer ZDevs says the app does not require internet access for this work.

To make an archive, select files in the folder and choose the compress action. ZArchiver can create 7z, ZIP, TAR and GZIP archives, among other formats. The format matters if you intend to pass the result on, for example through a transfer app like ShareMe: the recipient’s device must be able to open it. The creation dialog also lets you choose a name and destination.

Tap an archive to inspect its contents or extract it. Reading a file list before extracting helps avoid scattering dozens of files across the Downloads folder. The app opens RAR and 7z files as well as ZIP, and you can choose where the extracted files should go.

Password protected archives prompt for the password when their contents are accessed. If an archive is split into numbered parts, keep all parts in the same folder before extraction. A missing part is a common reason that an otherwise valid download fails to unpack.

Android storage permissions impose their own limits. On recent Android versions, access to folders such as Android/data and Android/obb may be restricted by the operating system, even when the archive itself is intact. If extraction into such a folder fails, unpack into Downloads or another shared folder first; ZDevs describes these permissions and the differences between Android versions in its user guide.

Formats you can create, open and split

New archives can be saved as 7z, ZIP, bzip2, gzip, XZ, lz4, TAR and zst. The list of formats ZArchiver can open is much longer. It includes RAR and RAR5, ISO, CAB, DEB, RPM, DMG, CHM, WIM, zipx and disk images such as img.

Multi-part archives follow their own rules. ZArchiver can create split 7z archives, while split RAR sets can only be unpacked. Numbered parts named like 7z.001, zip.001, part1.rar or z01 are recognised as one set.

File names written in other alphabets stay readable thanks to UTF-8 and UTF-16 support. Multithreading uses several processor cores, which speeds up large jobs on modern phones.

Editing an archive without unpacking it all

You can add files to an archive or remove them without rebuilding it. This works for ZIP, 7z, TAR, APK and MTZ. Partial extraction is also possible, so a single document can be pulled out of a large archive.

From Android 9, small files under 10 MB are opened directly where possible, without copying them to a temporary folder first. Archives received as email attachments can be opened from the mail app straight into ZArchiver.

APK and OBB files from backup archives

ZArchiver can manage app backups stored in archives. APK and OBB files packed inside such a backup can be installed from the archive itself. This is useful when you keep copies of apps on an SD card or a computer.

Offline, free, and a common password mistake

The app has no internet permission, so it cannot send your files or any other information to outside services. It is free and has no in-app purchases.

If an archive asks for a password, it means the contents were encrypted when the archive was made. Your phone’s screen lock password will not work here. You need the password chosen by the person who created the archive.

Problems and suggestions can be sent to the developer by email or left as a review in the store. A detailed description of what went wrong makes a fix more likely.