-ao (Overwrite mode) switch

Specifies the overwrite mode during extraction, to overwrite files already present on disk.

Syntax

-ao[a | s | t | u ]

Switch	Description
-aoa	Overwrite All existing files without prompt.
-aos	Skip extracting of existing files.
-aou	aUto rename extracting file (for example, name.txt will be renamed to name_1.txt).
-aot	auto rename existing file (for example, name.txt will be renamed to name_1.txt).

Examples

7z x test.zip -aoa

extracts all files from test.zip archive and overwrites existing files without any prompt.

Commands that can be used with this switch

e (Extract), 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.

Which -ao mode do I use to overwrite, skip or keep both?

On Linux and macOS the official console binary is 7zz; on Windows it is 7z (with paths like "-oC:\Dest"). The switch can sit anywhere after the command, for both x and e.

Goal	Switch
Replace existing files	`-aoa`
Never touch existing files	`-aos`
Keep both; the new file gets the new name	`-aou`
Keep both; the old file gets the new name	`-aot`

7zz x a.7z -aoa
7zz x a.zip -o./dest -aos -y
7zz x a.7z -aou
7zz x a.7z -aot

The second line is a safe unattended form for scripts: it never prompts, never changes existing files, and exits with code 0 even when everything is skipped. Extracting 1.txt over an existing 1.txt: with -aou the archive copy is written as 1_1.txt and the file on disk is unchanged; with -aot the file on disk becomes 1_1.txt and the archive copy is written as 1.txt.

Common mistakes

Writing bare -ao: it fails with "Too short switch: -ao"; a letter is required.
Setting no -ao in a script: 7-Zip asks "(Y)es / (N)o / (A)lways / (S)kip all / A(u)to rename all / (Q)uit?" and waits, so the script hangs.
Using -aoa carelessly: it silently replaces newer local files too. Extraction has no "only if newer" mode; -u applies to a, u, d and rn only.
Answering Quit at the prompt: 7zz prints "Break signaled" and exits with code 255, so only -aos, -aou, -aot or -aoa are safe in scripts.
Expecting -y alone to keep files: it answers Yes to every prompt, so existing files are overwritten. Pair it with -aos or -aou (-y).

-ao (Overwrite mode) switch

Syntax

Examples

Commands that can be used with this switch

See also