WinZip Pro

About this release

WinZip is the archiver that a very large number of organisations settled on years ago and never moved away from, and the current build is a good deal more than a compression front end. It creates and reads zip, zipx, 7z, tar, gzip and iso, extracts from a much longer list, and the zipx format with the automatic method selection routinely produces smaller output than plain zip on mixed content because it picks a different algorithm per file type.

The encryption side is what keeps it in regulated environments. AES at 128 or 256 bits applied per archive, with the file names optionally encrypted as well so the contents list is not readable without opening it. Archives can be signed, and there is a checksum verification pass that confirms an archive survived transfer intact before anyone tries to use it.

Around the archiver sits a set of file tools that grew into the product over time. Batch image resizing and watermarking on the way into an archive, PDF conversion and combination, duplicate file finding across folders, a background service that watches a folder and compresses anything dropped in it, and a scheduled backup job builder that writes a dated archive to whatever destination you point it at.

Cloud and transfer integration is the Professional level's other addition. Archives can be created directly into connected storage services, large files can be split and sent as a link rather than an attachment, and the mail integration compresses and encrypts attachments as they leave. All of it is exposed through the ribbon interface and through the right click menu, which is where most people actually use it from.

What you get

• Creates zip, zipx, 7z, tar, gzip and iso with per file automatic method selection
• Reads a long list of legacy and modern container formats
• AES 128 and 256 bit encryption with optional file name encryption
• Checksum verification to confirm an archive survived transfer intact
• Batch image resizing and watermarking applied on the way into an archive
• PDF conversion, combination and page management tools
• Duplicate file finder across folders and connected storage
• Watched folder service that compresses anything dropped into it automatically
• Scheduled backup jobs writing dated archives to any configured destination
• Cloud storage targets, link sharing for large files and compressed mail attachments

Changes in this build

• Compression engine faster on folders containing very large numbers of small files
• Ribbon reorganised so the file tools stop competing with the archive operations
• Cloud target list updated and reauthentication handling made less intrusive
• Duplicate finder faster and now reports across connected storage
• Fixed a case where the watched folder service would miss files copied in bulk

Installation

Read the whole list before you start. Most of the reports that come into the desk about this title turn out to be a step taken out of order.

1. Extract the archive to a local folder.
2. Uninstall any earlier WinZip build and reboot before you start.
3. Run the installer for your architecture and decline the browser extension offers.
4. Close the installer without launching the application.
5. Run the included licensing helper as administrator from the same folder.
6. Open WinZip, set your file associations, and turn off the background updater in settings.

System requirements

Processor	Any modern x86 or x64 processor
Memory	2 GB minimum, 4 GB recommended
Graphics	Not applicable
Storage	500 MB free plus space for your archives
Display	1280 by 800 minimum

Notes from the desk

Full details

Title	WinZip Pro
Developer	WinZip Computing
Version	29.0.16416
Category	Utilities & Tools
Release type	Professional (full)
Operating system	Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1 (64 bit and 32 bit)
Architecture	x86 / x64
Interface language	Multilingual
Archive size	186 MB
File name	winzip_pro_29.0.16416_x86_x64.rar
Shelf updated	1 week ago
Total downloads	153,078

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