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m2team/nanazip

14,306C++Audience · generalComplexity · 2/5Setup · easy

TLDR

NanaZip is a free Windows file archiver forked from 7-Zip with a modern dark-mode look, extra compression formats like LZ4 and Zstandard, and stronger security protections.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((NanaZip))
    What it does
      Archive files
      Extract archives
      Hash checking
    Tech stack
      C++ codebase
      MSIX packaging
      WinRT XAML UI
    Formats supported
      Brotli LZ4 Zstandard
      Electron asar
      WASM binaries
    Features
      Dark mode
      Mica effect
      Context menu
      Security hardening
    Audience
      Windows users
      IT professionals
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Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Compress folders into 7z, ZIP, LZ4, or Zstandard archives directly from the Windows File Explorer right-click menu.

USE CASE 2

Extract Electron asar bundles or WebAssembly binary files that most other archivers cannot handle.

USE CASE 3

Verify file integrity using SHA-3, BLAKE2b, or SM3 hashing without installing a separate tool.

USE CASE 4

Replace 7-Zip on Windows 10 or 11 with a modern dark-mode app that integrates with the Windows 11 right-click menu.

Tech stack

C++MSIXWinRT XAML

Getting it running

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

In plain English

NanaZip is a free, open source file archiver for Windows that can compress, decompress, and manage archives in dozens of formats. It started as a fork of the widely used 7-Zip tool, so it inherits the same broad format support, but it has been updated to feel native on modern Windows. The main things NanaZip adds on top of 7-Zip are a redesigned look and a set of extra capabilities. On the visual side, it supports dark mode throughout all its windows, and on Windows 11 it uses the Mica transparency effect that blends the window background with your desktop. It fits into Windows 10 and Windows 11 properly, with a right-click context menu in File Explorer and file association handling. Installation happens through the Microsoft Store or a downloadable MSIX package, the same modern packaging format that Microsoft uses for its own apps. Beyond the appearance, NanaZip brings a noticeably wider range of compression formats and hashing algorithms than the original 7-Zip. It can read and write formats such as Brotli, LZ4, Zstandard, and Lizard, which are popular in software development and web contexts. The built-in hash checker supports dozens of algorithms including SHA-3, BLAKE2b, SM3, and several others useful for verifying file integrity. There is also read-only support for some unusual archive types like Electron asar bundles, WebAssembly binary files, and several embedded filesystem image formats. Security has been tightened compared to the original: the binaries are compiled with Control Flow Guard and Control-flow Enforcement Technology to make certain kinds of attacks harder, and the software blocks loading libraries from unexpected locations at runtime. NanaZip runs on Windows 10 (Build 19041 or later) and Windows 11, on both x64 and ARM64 machines. The project is maintained by Kenji Mouri and welcomes contributions from the community. There is also a Sponsor Edition available through the Microsoft Store for those who want to support ongoing development.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
How do I use NanaZip from the command line to compress a folder into a .7z file with Zstandard compression?
Prompt 2
What is the difference between NanaZip and 7-Zip, and which should I use on Windows 11?
Prompt 3
How do I install NanaZip on a machine without Microsoft Store access using the MSIX package?
Prompt 4
How do I compute the SHA-256 hash of a file using NanaZip's built-in hash checker?
Prompt 5
How do I set NanaZip as the default program for .zip and .7z files in Windows 11?
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