ZIP, RAR, and 7z encryption compared
The extension is only the beginning. Encryption family, header visibility, archive structure, and file integrity determine what a forgotten-password case can realistically do next.
ZIP
Two common protection families
ZIP is a container, not a single encryption method. Identify the protected entry before choosing a recovery path; a known-plaintext option may exist for suitable ZipCrypto archives, while AES ZIP relies on candidate verification.
RAR
Generation and volumes matter
RAR recovery is not one workflow. Identify the generation, collect every volume, and separate a checksum failure from a missing part or wrong password before testing candidates.
7z
AES-256 with optional header encryption
7z commonly protects data with AES-256 and can encrypt headers, which explains an apparently empty listing. Confirm the container and split parts before treating a 'cannot open' or data error as a password issue.
The same rule applies to every format
Preserve the original, verify the container, gather all volumes, write down password clues, and confirm any result by extracting expected files. No format label makes a random password guaranteed to recover, and no repair tool can recreate bytes that are missing.
Read the recovery workflow