ZIP, RAR, and 7z File Types - Encryption and Recovery Differences
A plain-language map of ZIP, RAR, and 7z archives: encryption families, visible headers, split files, and the right diagnostic starting point.
ZIP
ZIP can use legacy ZipCrypto or WinZip AES. A ZIP may show filenames while protecting file data, and one archive can contain entries with different states. Start with ZIP password recovery and compare ZipCrypto with WinZip AES.
RAR
RAR3/RAR4 and RAR5 are different generations. RAR archives may be solid, split across volumes, protected with encrypted headers, or damaged. See RAR recovery and the checksum guide before testing candidates.
7z
7z commonly uses AES-256 and can encrypt headers, which hides filenames and metadata. A 'cannot open' or 'data error' message may be an integrity problem rather than a password result. Start with 7z recovery, encrypted headers, or cannot-open diagnosis.
A practical rule
The extension is only the beginning. Preserve a copy, identify the actual container and encryption, collect split parts, and verify the result by extracting expected data. A format label never guarantees that a password can be recovered.