Recover access to a ZIP, RAR, or 7z archive
The right next step depends on the format, encryption, archive health, and what you remember about the password. Use this guide to narrow the problem before paying for compute or uploading a sensitive file.
Preserve the original
Make a working copy, record the file size and hash, and keep any split volumes together. A repair attempt should never be your first action on the only copy.
Identify the container and protection
ZIP, RAR, and 7z use different encryption families. Check whether headers are visible, whether the archive is split, and whether the utility reports corruption.
Use the narrowest recovery path
Search your password records and clues first. ZipCrypto may have a known-plaintext option; AES ZIP, RAR5, and 7z normally need candidate verification.
Verify the result
A password is not proven by a listing or a screenshot. Extract representative protected files and check their names, contents, and integrity.
Choose the branch that matches your case
ZIP
ZipCrypto or WinZip AES; start with local header analysis.
RAR
RAR generation, complete volume set, and checksum context matter.
7z
AES-256, optional encrypted headers, and data-integrity checks.
I remember part
Turn a prefix, suffix, or length clue into a bounded plan.
It will not open
Separate an invalid container from a wrong password.
Owner-only and evidence-first
Only work on archives you own or are authorized to access. A damaged or incomplete archive needs a data-recovery diagnosis, not a larger password list. No honest service can guarantee an unknown random password.