7-Zip-zstd-crypto

Project Overview

7-Zip ZS (7-Zip-zstd-crypto) is an enhanced build of 7-Zip that adds a range of modern compression algorithms and encryption schemes to the original feature set. For compression it supports Zstandard, Brotli, LZ4, LZ5, Lizard, and Fast LZMA2; for encryption, beyond the default 7zAES it adds XChaCha20, XChaCha20-Poly1305, and several cascade ciphers. It can be installed as a complete build with a GUI and Explorer context menu, or as codec plugins only, to augment your existing 7-Zip.

Gives 7-Zip more compression algorithms and more modern encryption.

Key Features

• Zstandard compression: levels 1 to 22 balancing speed and ratio
• Brotli compression: general-purpose lossless compression with a ratio near the best general methods
• LZ4 and LZ5: extremely fast compression and decompression for speed-sensitive work
• Lizard compression: decompression above 1000 MB/s with a ratio near zlib
• Fast LZMA2: 20% to 100% faster than standard LZMA2 at higher levels
• Modern encryption: XChaCha20, XChaCha20-Poly1305, and several cascade ciphers
• Hash calculation: CRC32, the SHA family, BLAKE2sp, BLAKE3, XXH32/64, and more
• Flexible install: full build or codec plugins that plug into your existing 7-Zip
• Shell integration: the Explorer menu can reuse the parameters from your last compression

Target Audience

• Users who need a higher compression ratio or faster decompression
• Technicians interested in modern encryption algorithms
• Users who handle zstd, lz4, br, and similar formats
• Users who want to add codecs to their existing 7-Zip

Quick Start

Full installer

1. Download the installer from Releases
2. Install it just like the standard 7-Zip
3. Run 7z.exe i to confirm the new codecs are loaded

Codec plugin

1. Download Codecs.7z from Releases and extract it
2. Create a Codecs folder in the 7-Zip directory and drop in the library matching your architecture
3. Run 7z.exe i to check that the plugins are active

Core Advantages

• Many algorithms: several compression algorithms in one package, chosen per scenario
• Modern encryption: AEAD and cascade ciphers balance confidentiality with integrity
• Flexible install: choose the full build or just the plugins without replacing all of 7-Zip
• Format compatible: new algorithms run inside the standard 7z container for good compatibility

System Requirements

Item	Requirement
OS	Windows (full build); Linux / macOS via the 7zz command line
Architecture	x86 / x64 (pick the matching plugin)
Base software	The codec plugin requires an existing 7-Zip install

Notes

• Some antivirus tools may flag the new codecs; verify the release hashes first
• When compressing executables with the plugin build, disable the bcj2 filter explicitly
• The plugin build can only create .7z files; standalone .zst, .lz4 output needs the full build