Windows' built-in archive manager is getting better these days. But for more advanced features, you'll likely need a third-party tool. After using 7-Zip for a long time, I found NanaZip. It impressed me so much that I quit using alternatives.
NanaZip is an open-source file archive manager just like 7-Zip. In fact, it's a fork of 7-Zip. However, NanaZip has extended much of the 7-Zip project. So, despite having similar functionalities, NanaZip has some distinct advantages.
There are currently two versions: NanaZip and NanaZip Classic. Each version is geared toward different types of systems. For most modern systems, the non-classic version is recommended.
One thing it lacks from 7-Zip is non-Windows support. NanaZip is made for Windows. The only way you can get it to work on Linux and macOS is by using Wine.
The team behind NanaZip is a Japanese software development group who are also behind many other applications such as NanaBox, NanaGet, and NanaRun. A fun fact. Nana in Japanese means seven.
I've used 7-Zip for a long time. I've also used Windows' own archiving features. While 7-Zip has been a great program, there are some areas where NanaZip shines. It has all the functionalities of 7-Zip but has a few advantages that make it a better choice.
Ever felt that having the option to extract files from an archive from the right-click context menu would be great? NanaZip has that. Whether you want to extract files or create an archive from files, you can select the target file(s), right-click to open the context menu, and choose NanaZip from there.
This is a big one for me: not having to open your archiving software from the menu, then loading the ZIP file in it to work with it. This is a great quality-of-life feature for people who often have to work with different types of archives. Moreover, it has many options right in the context menu, not just unzipping.
7-Zip's look and UI don't feel like it belongs to modern computer systems. It takes you back to the old days. I've found this to be true of many archive management applications. NanaZip is different.
It blends well with the Windows look. Like me, if you prefer dark mode, it has that too. It even has the Mica effect on its main window. Its shiny interface makes you really feel like NanaZip is a modern native Windows app.
The user interface is quite intuitive and easy to use. If you compare the buttons on 7-Zip and NanaZip, you'll see a clear difference. Even without hard labels, you can easily recognize which button does what on NanaZip. You can also hover your mouse over the button to see the tooltip.
Unlike 7-Zip, which doesn't have an automatic update system, NanaZip keeps itself updated without you intervening. This means you don't have to download security patches or new setup files every time there is a new release. A big time-saver.
First, you need to download and install NanaZip. You can download it from the official GitHub repository, SourceFourge, or Microsoft Store. For simplicity, I'm going with the last option. Open the Microsoft Store and search for NanaZip. Install it from there.
When you're done installing, you can find the application from the search bar on the Taskbar. Open the application.
Another way to use NanaZip is from the context menu, as I said earlier. If you have a ZIP file you want to extract files from, right-click on it, and you'll find NanaZip in the context menu. Hover your mouse pointer over NanaZip to check all the available options.
