An ad-free, free
Windows extractor.
Right-click a ZIP, 7z or RAR archive and it extracts on the spot. Extracting into a folder you already have no longer leaves files silently half-overwritten when an operation fails. Filenames in older ZIP files can be checked in the list — and their encoding re-picked — so archives created on Japanese or Chinese systems come out with readable names. 320 extensions are supported, and there are no ads, no bundles and no telemetry.
2.2 automates the cleanup.
What changed in 2.2.0. Everything is in the release history.
Automatically handle archives that arrive in a folder you watch
Automated processing · 3 templatesEvery time an archive lands in a folder you choose, Karuzip inspects and extracts it. Templates are also available for batch health-checking a folder of archives, and for re-verifying right after you compress. It only runs while Karuzip is open.
See what's inside before you extract
Pre-extraction checkOpening an archive shows whether it's encrypted, how many items it has, and its unpacked size — at a glance. If this information can't be read, extraction is not blocked.
Find past extractions and compressions later
Processing logFilter by completed, failed, or cancelled, and expand any entry to see verification details and the exact items processed.
You can now open a different archive while a right-click extraction is still running
Smoother multitaskingFewer moments where one operation blocks another. Technical details are in the release history.
How Karuzip compares with 7-Zip, WinRAR, PeaZip and NanaZip
For anyone comparing archive tools before installing. A plain list of features and limits.
| Item | Karuzip | 7-Zip 25.01 | WinRAR 7.23 | PeaZip | NanaZip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free (open source) | Paid (unlimited trial) | Free (open source) | Free (open source) |
| Create 7z archives | ○ | ○ | ✕ | ○ | ○ |
| Create RAR archives | ✕ (extract only) | ✕ (extract only) | ○ (the only one — the format is proprietary) | ✕ (extract only) | ✕ (extract only) |
| Re-pick filename encoding in the file list | ○ (per archive) | △ (no in-list switch) | △ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Automatic updates | ○ (since v1.0.2) | ✕ (manual) | ✕ (manual) | ✕ (manual) | ○ (via Microsoft Store) |
| Platforms | Windows 10 / 11 | Windows | Windows | Windows / Linux | Windows |
Karuzip is a free archive utility for Windows that extracts 320 extension types — ZIP, 7z and RAR included — and creates archives in 7 formats. There are no ads or bundles, and the app never collects personal information. If extraction goes wrong, start with "what to do when a ZIP won't extract"; if you are comparing tools, read the "Karuzip vs 7-Zip comparison".
Start from what went wrong
If a ZIP or RAR stopped you today, these pages pick up the exact symptom.
A ZIP opened with garbled filenames
Re-pick the character encoding and extract with readable names.A ZIP just won't extract
Corruption, path length, disk space, encryption — a checklist by cause.You need to open a RAR file
RAR is extract-only in Karuzip — creating RAR archives is not supported.You want a password-protected ZIP
ZIP uses traditional ZipCrypto, while 7z uses AES-256 with optional header encryption.Switching from 7-Zip
What changes, what carries over, and where Karuzip uses the same engine.A blue warning blocks the app
What SmartScreen means and how to start the app safely.Where Karuzip differs from other free extractors.
Ordered by how often each one solves a real problem.
Re-pick the character encoding
and get readable filenames back.
Open the archive, check the file list, then switch Filename encoding between UTF-8 / Japanese (CP932) / Simplified Chinese (GBK) / Traditional Chinese (Big5). The right encoding turns mojibake back into names you can read — before anything is extracted.
See how the fix worksZero ads, no resident processes
0 background processesNo pop-ups, no stealth installs. Karuzip doesn't sit in the background — it runs when you use it and closes when done.
A small window that finishes the job
Progress as N / M filesRight-click operations show progress only — no full app window. It closes itself when the job ends.
Check before you extract
List · Check integrity · Filename encodingPreview the contents, run Check integrity to see whether the archive is damaged, and extract only the files you actually need.
From 「螟乗律繧翫」
back to 「夏祭り」.
ZIP archives made on Japanese PCs — or by older Japanese tools — often store filenames in Shift-JIS. Extract them with Windows' built-in tool and the names come out unreadable. Karuzip opens the archive, shows the list, and lets you switch between UTF-8 / Japanese (CP932) / Simplified Chinese (GBK) / Traditional Chinese (Big5) until the names read correctly — and only then extracts.
Compression ratios we measured — and publish as-is.
One real file, one machine, medians of three runs. Including the case where the slow way isn't worth it.
| Storage method | Resulting size | % of original |
|---|---|---|
| Original file (single CSV log) | 1,074 MB | 100% |
| ZIP, default level | 142 MB | 13.26% |
| Karuzip, 7z at highest compression | 86 MB | 8.03% |
320 extensions supported for extraction
Beyond extracting ZIP, 7z and RAR, Karuzip creates ZIP / 7z / TAR / GZIP / BZIP2 / XZ / WIM archives.
Three steps, done
From a right-click on the desktop to the extracted folder.
Right-click on the desktop
Pick the action — "Extract here", "Compress to ZIP", and so on.
Watch the progress
A small window counts N / M files. Cancelling leaves no partial output behind.
Open the result as-is
The window closes itself and offers to open the finished folder.
"Safe to use" is the first feature.
Free software earns trust the hard way. Nothing extra gets installed. Nothing gets collected. Nothing surprises you. That is the whole policy.
Verify the file yourself
- File name
- Karuzip-Setup.exe
- Version
- 2.2.1
- SHA-256
- 66F13F8BF9DDEABF628743D4DB05AD4D7B75B7C5269072E3811837898A7E12BD
If a blue screen appears on first launch
Karuzip is new, so Microsoft Defender SmartScreen may show a warning. It is not a virus detection. Choose ［More info］→［Run］ to start it. The Microsoft Store version is Microsoft-signed and never shows this warning.
Frequently asked questions
Is Karuzip really free?
Yes. Karuzip is completely free — no ads, no in-app purchases, no bundled offers.
A ZIP from Japan opens with garbled filenames. Can they be fixed?
Yes. Open the ZIP, check the file list, and switch the filename encoding between UTF-8, Japanese (CP932), Simplified Chinese (GBK) and Traditional Chinese (Big5). Pick the right encoding and the names become readable before you extract.
Can Karuzip extract RAR files?
Yes. RAR extraction is supported (creating RAR archives is not).
Can I create password-protected ZIP files?
Yes. Karuzip extracts password-protected ZIP and 7z archives. Karuzip can also open supported AES-256 ZIP files. When you create archives, ZIP uses traditional ZipCrypto and keeps filenames visible, while 7z uses AES-256. Choose 7z when you need header encryption to hide filenames.
Does Karuzip upload my files?
No. Archive processing stays on your PC; the app has no ads, tracking or telemetry. This website uses GA4 as described in the Privacy Policy.
Is the installer safe?
There is no bundled software, and the installer makes no changes beyond its own program files. The SHA-256 hash of the installer is published on this page so you can verify the file yourself.
A blue screen says Windows protected my PC on first launch.
That is Microsoft Defender SmartScreen warning about a new app with a short history — not a virus detection. Choose More info, then Run to start Karuzip. The Microsoft Store version is Microsoft-signed and does not show this warning.
Which Windows versions are supported?
The 64-bit official installer supports Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Microsoft Store version is for Windows 11.
Does Karuzip update automatically?
Yes. Since version 1.0.2, a new release is announced at launch and can be installed with one click.
Why does extracting into an existing folder need extra free space?
For safety, Karuzip first extracts everything into a private working folder and then commits the result. This temporarily needs free space roughly equal to the extracted size; the working folder is removed automatically when the operation finishes. Extracting into a newly created folder needs no extra space.
Can I use Karuzip from the command line?
Yes. The official-site installer includes karuzip-cli, ready in any Command Prompt or PowerShell window you open after installation. It is not included in the Microsoft Store edition.
Start right-clicking today — free.For Windows PCs only.
Completely free, no ads. Windows 10 / 11 supported.
Windows 10: the Store build is Windows 11 only. Windows 10 users, get the official installer →
Official installer, 11.77 MB · version 2.2.1 (unsigned beta)
On first launch Windows shows a blue SmartScreen warning. It is not a virus detection. What to do