Command Line Commands

The command is the first non-switch argument on the command line.

Command names are not case sensitive.

See also Command Line Syntax for more details about using the command line.

Commands quick reference

Command	Description
a	Add
b	Benchmark
d	Delete
e	Extract
h	Hash
i	Show information about supported formats
l	List
rn	Rename
t	Test
u	Update
x	eXtract with full paths

Notes from this site

Not part of the 7-Zip manual. Written by this site; examples checked with 7-Zip 26.04.

Quick examples

On Windows the program is 7z.exe. The official Linux and macOS console binary is 7zz. The manual writes 7z everywhere, so use 7zz there. Some Linux packages install other names such as 7z too; check with command -v 7zz 7z. Running 7zz with no arguments prints the version and a usage summary. See command line syntax.

7zz a x.7z folder                 # create (or add to) an archive
7zz a -mx=9 x.7z folder            # smaller archive, slower (levels: see -m)
7zz a -tzip x.zip folder           # same, as a zip
7zz a -p -mhe=on x.7z folder       # password; also encrypts file names (7z only)
7zz x x.7z -oout                   # extract into the folder out, keeping paths
7zz x x.7z folder/b.doc -oout      # extract one file (path as shown by l)
7zz l x.7z                         # list contents
7zz t x.7z || echo BAD             # test; exit code 2 on damage
7zz i | less                       # formats, codecs and hashers in your build

Compression levels are explained on the -m page, more create variants on a (Add), and single files on x. Scripts should check exit codes, not the text.

Which command do I need?

a creates or adds; u adds only new and changed files.
x extracts with folders (usual choice); e puts everything in one flat folder. Choose the target with -o.
l shows contents; t checks for damage.
d and rn remove or rename entries inside an archive.
h gives checksums; b runs a benchmark.
i prints the supported Formats, Codecs and Hashers. In 26.04 the Rar rows lack the C flag: 7-Zip reads RAR but cannot create it.

Common mistakes

Using e on an archive with folders: two files named n.txt from different folders collide, and with -y the later one replaces the earlier one.
Running x in a script without -y or -ao: an existing file triggers a prompt and the script stops. -aou keeps both; the second becomes n_1.txt.
a, u, d and rn rewrite the archive, so keep a backup of anything important.