Fast compression and decompression tool with extensive file type support, archive spanning, encryption, multiple compression levels, integrity checker, context menu integration, and more.
- Bandizip
- Version :7.16
- License :Freeware
- OS :Windows All
- Publisher :Bandisoft
Bandizip is a free and fast file archiver that supports various archive formats, including ZIP, RAR, 7Z, and more. It is known for its simplicity, speed, and clean interface. Whether you’re creating or extracting archives, Bandizip makes the process easy and efficient. Here’s how to use Bandizip effectively:
1. Download and Install Bandizip
- Download: Visit the official Bandizip website: Bandizip Download.
- Choose Your Version: You can download the free version or purchase the Pro version (which includes additional features).
- Install: After downloading, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install Bandizip on your computer.
2. Creating a Compressed Archive
Creating a compressed archive allows you to reduce the file size or group multiple files into a single archive file for easier storage or sharing.
- Select Files/Folders:
- Navigate to the files or folders you want to compress.
- Select the files/folders you want to include in the archive.
- Right-click and Choose Bandizip:
- Right-click on the selected files/folders.
- From the context menu, select “Add to archive” (this option appears after installing Bandizip).
- Choose Archive Settings:
- Archive Name: In the Bandizip window, you can set the name of the archive and specify where it will be saved.
- Format: Select the archive format (e.g., ZIP, 7Z, TAR, RAR). For general purposes, ZIP is most commonly used, but 7Z is a great choice for higher compression.
- Compression Level: Choose the desired compression level (e.g., Store, Normal, Best). Higher compression usually results in smaller file sizes but may take longer.
- Split Archive (Optional): If you’re dealing with large files, you can split the archive into smaller parts by specifying the desired size for each part.
- Set Password Protection (Optional):
- To add password protection to your archive, click on Set password… and enter a password. This will secure the archive from unauthorized access.
- Create the Archive: Once you’re satisfied with your settings, click OK to create the archive.
3. Extracting Files from a Compressed Archive
Extracting files is the process of decompressing an archive so that you can access its contents.
- Open the Archive:
- Double-click on the archive file (e.g., .zip, .7z, .rar) to open it with Bandizip.
- You can also right-click on the archive and select “Open with Bandizip” if it’s not set as the default program.
- Extract the Files:
- Inside the Bandizip window, you will see the list of files inside the archive.
- Click on Extract To in the toolbar at the top.
- Choose the folder where you want the files to be extracted. You can select an existing folder or create a new one.
- If the archive is password-protected, Bandizip will prompt you to enter the password before extraction begins.
- Extract Here or to Folder:
- You can also right-click the archive and select “Extract here” to extract the contents into the current folder or “Extract to” to specify a different folder.
4. Working with Archive Options
Bandizip provides several advanced options for managing your archives:
- Test Archive: If you want to ensure the archive is not corrupted, you can use Bandizip’s Test feature. To do this, right-click on the archive and select Test to check the integrity of the files.
- Repair Archive: If an archive is damaged, Bandizip allows you to attempt repairing it. Right-click the archive, and select Repair if you want to try to fix it (this works for formats like ZIP and RAR).
- Convert Archive Formats: Bandizip also supports converting one archive format to another (e.g., from .zip to .7z). Open the archive and go to Convert in the top menu to change formats.
5. Adding Files to an Existing Archive
- Add Files to Archive: You can add files to an existing archive without extracting the current contents.
- Open the archive with Bandizip.
- Click the Add button in the toolbar.
- Browse and select the files you want to add.
- Once selected, the files will be added to the archive without affecting the existing contents.
6. Encrypting and Protecting Archives
Bandizip allows you to encrypt your archives and protect them with a password, ensuring that only authorized users can access the contents.
- Set a Password:
- When creating a new archive, click Set Password in the options.
- Enter your password in the box. This password will be required to extract the files from the archive.
- Encrypt File Names: If you want to further protect the archive, you can choose to encrypt file names. This prevents anyone from seeing the names of the files inside the archive without the password.
- Create Self-Extracting Archives: Bandizip also lets you create self-extracting archives (SFX), which can be extracted without needing to use Bandizip or any other software. You can do this when creating the archive by selecting SFX Archive.
7. Bandizip’s Interface and Tools
Bandizip has a user-friendly interface with various tools and options for handling archives. Here’s what you can find:
- Menu Options: The main menu includes tools for creating, extracting, testing, and managing archives. You can access the menu from the top toolbar.
- Toolbar: The toolbar gives you quick access to common actions such as creating a new archive, extracting files, testing archives, and more.
- Drag-and-Drop Support: You can drag and drop files or folders into Bandizip’s window to quickly add them to a new archive.
- Context Menu Integration: Once Bandizip is installed, you can easily access its features by right-clicking on any file or folder, which will bring up Bandizip options like Add to archive, Extract, and Open with Bandizip.
8. Extracting Multiple Archives at Once (Batch Extraction)
Bandizip allows you to extract multiple archives simultaneously, which can save time when working with many compressed files.
- Batch Extraction: Select multiple archives, right-click on them, and choose “Extract to”. Bandizip will process them one after the other in the selected destination folder.
9. File Associations (Optional)
You can set Bandizip as the default program to open specific types of compressed files.
- Set Default File Associations: Open Bandizip, go to Options > Preferences, and select the Association tab. You can then choose which file types (e.g., .zip, .rar, .7z) Bandizip should open by default.
10. License and Registration
- Free vs. Pro Version: Bandizip offers a free version with most of the core features. However, there is also a Pro version available for a one-time purchase, which includes additional features like faster compression, higher encryption, and support for more file formats.
- Activate Pro Version: If you have purchased the Pro version, you can enter the license key by going to Help > License.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Password Protection Issues: If you forget the password to an encrypted archive, there is no easy way to recover it with Bandizip. However, you can use third-party password recovery tools, but their success varies.
- Corrupted Archives: If an archive is damaged, you can attempt to repair it by using Bandizip’s repair feature (for supported formats).
- Slow Extraction: If extraction is taking too long, check that you’re using an appropriate compression format (e.g., 7Z offers better compression ratios but might take longer to extract).
By following these steps, you can easily use Bandizip to create, extract, and manage compressed files on your system. It’s a fast, efficient, and easy-to-use alternative for handling archives and comes with many powerful features.