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Yes—Windows 11 can create 7z and TAR archives in File Explorer, but 22631.3807 was a Release Preview build, not a required current build. Microsoft announced the feature on June 13, 2024, for builds 22621.3807 (Windows 11 22H2) and 22631.3807 (23H2), then delivered it through later public updates. You can use Windows’ built-in tools for ordinary archives; encrypted archives and advanced archive work still call for a dedicated utility.
First, a build-number correction
The original claim repeats build 22631.3807. Microsoft’s June 13, 2024 announcement covered two builds: 22621.3807 for Windows 11 version 22H2 and 22631.3807 for version 23H2. Both were released to the Release Preview Channel under KB5039302. That channel is for preview testing, so 22631.3807 should be understood as the feature’s preview origin—not a build ordinary users must install today. Microsoft’s announcement describes the change.
| Windows 11 version | Preview build | Update | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22H2 | 22621.3807 | KB5039302 | Release Preview, June 13, 2024 |
| 23H2 | 22631.3807 | KB5039302 | Release Preview, June 13, 2024 |
The functionality subsequently reached public Windows 11 updates. Microsoft’s release history lists build 22631.3810 for June 25, 2024, and the July 9, 2024 public security update KB5040442 brought build 22631.3880. The old preview build number is useful for understanding the rollout, not for deciding whether a current PC can use the feature. See the Windows 11 release information and KB5040442 release notes.
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What File Explorer gained
The change was about creating archives, not only opening or extracting them. In the File Explorer context menu, Microsoft added a Compress to path for making 7z and TAR files, plus an Additional options compression wizard. Microsoft’s preview announcement describes choices including TAR compression methods and compression level. The built-in support handles archive formats; it does not install the separate 7-Zip application or expose every feature that application offers.
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Windows 11’s archive capabilities have since expanded: Microsoft’s support documentation for version 24H2 lists ZIP, RAR, 7z, and TAR formats. Available commands and options can differ by Windows version and update, so a particular PC may not show every format or setting described for another release. Microsoft’s archive help page also documents an important limitation: built-in handling does not support operations on encrypted archives.
Create a 7z or TAR archive in File Explorer
- Open File Explorer and select the files or folders to package. You can select more than one item.
- Right-click the selection and choose Compress to. If you do not see the command in Windows 11’s compact menu, select Show more options and check the expanded context menu.
- Choose a format or select Additional options to open the compression wizard.
- In the wizard, choose the available format and options, such as compression method or level where offered. Set the archive name and destination.
- Start the operation. Check the chosen location for the resulting
.7z,.tar, or other selected archive.
The exact labels and choices depend on the installed Windows version and updates. If the wizard does not offer a particular TAR compression variant, do not assume that option is available on that PC.
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TAR is a container; compression is a separate choice
A plain .tar file bundles files into one archive but does not necessarily reduce their size. A compressed TAR combines that container with a compression method: for example, .tar.gz uses gzip, while .tar.bz2 uses bzip2. A .7z file is a different archive format. Which format to choose depends on what the person or system receiving it can read—not just the extension or a hope that one option will always make the smallest file.
Use Windows’ tar command for repeatable work
Windows also includes a tar command-line utility, useful for developer workflows, scripts, or when you want to specify paths explicitly. Microsoft documents creating, listing, and extracting several archive formats with this tool, which is based on bsdtar from libarchive. Run these examples in PowerShell or Command Prompt from a suitable working directory:
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# Create a plain TAR archive
tar -cf "backup.tar" ".Project Files"
# Create a gzip-compressed TAR archive
tar -czf "backup.tar.gz" ".Project Files"
# Create a bzip2-compressed TAR archive
tar -cjf "backup.tar.bz2" ".Project Files"
# Create a ZIP archive
tar -caf "backup.zip" ".Project Files"
# List contents without extracting
tar -tf "backup.tar.gz"
# Extract an archive into the current directory
tar -xf "backup.tar.gz"Quotes keep paths containing spaces together. Pay attention to the current directory: extraction writes files relative to it, so choose a suitable destination before running tar -xf. See Microsoft’s Windows tar documentation for supported formats and command details.
When built-in support is enough—and when it is not
| Need | Practical choice |
|---|---|
| Occasional, ordinary 7z or TAR creation without installing software | File Explorer is convenient. |
| Encrypted or password-protected archives | Use a suitable third-party archiver. Microsoft says Windows’ built-in archive handling does not support operations on encrypted archives. |
| Granular compression settings, split volumes, recovery records, or broad archive management | A dedicated tool is generally the better fit; options vary by product. |
| Repeatable packaging, scripts, or explicit path handling | Use the command-line tool that fits the workflow, such as Windows’ tar. |
For a free general-purpose graphical tool, 7-Zip remains an option when you need more controls than File Explorer provides. WinRAR may suit workflows that specifically need RAR creation or its archive-management features; PeaZip is another free graphical alternative. These are choices, not requirements for routine unencrypted archives. Do not treat a file’s .7z extension as proof that Windows used the same settings, compression behavior, or performance profile as a separate 7-Zip installation.
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If “Compress to” is missing
- Press Windows key + R, enter
winver, and check the Windows version and OS build. - Open Settings > Windows Update and check for available updates, then restart if updates were installed.
- Try the context menu’s Show more options entry and test with a normal local file or folder.
- If File Explorer still does not show the command, restart File Explorer or reboot Windows. A command-line workflow or a dedicated archiver is a practical fallback.
Menu differences can result from Windows version and update level, and shell extensions or configuration can also affect the context menu. Format support does not guarantee that every archive made by one implementation behaves identically in another. If an archive is headed to another operating system or an important workflow, verify it with the recipient’s software—particularly for TAR variants, long paths, Unicode names, links, permissions, or large files.
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