.ZPAQ File Extension

ZPAQ Archive

Developer Matt Mahoney
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What is a ZPAQ file?

A ZPAQ file is an archive that contains one or more files compressed with the open-source ZPAQ algorithm. It supports up to 250 terabytes of data, AES-256 encryption, and five different levels of compression with differing speeds and resulting archive sizes. Several compression utilities support ZPAQ files, including the ZPAQ command-line utility and ConeXware PowerArchiver.

More Information

Screenshot of a .zpaq file in ConeXware PowerArchiver 2022
ZPAQ file open in ConeXware PowerArchiver 2022

ZPAQ users typically compress files as ZPAQ archives to create backups and reduce their size for storage or transfer purposes. They may also encrypt the ZPAQ archive to secure sensitive information, such as financial documents or personal photos.

Matt Mahoney released the first version of the ZPAQ algorithm in 2009 to improve upon other common compression formats, such as .ZIP, .7Z, and .RAR. He followed the initial version with subsequent releases that improved its capabilities, including the ability to choose between Streaming and Journaling methods. In addition, the ZPAQ format is backward and forward compatible, meaning that utilities that support ZPAQ support all versions of the ZPAQ format.

How to open a ZPAQ file

You can open a ZPAQ file with several file decompression programs, including ZPAQ (multiplatform) and ConeXware PowerArchiver (multiplatform). For example, to open a ZPAQ file with PowerArchiver, select File → Open Archive.

How to convert a ZPAQ file

Various compression utilities, such as ConeXware PowerArchiver and ZPAQ, can convert ZPAQ archives by extracting their items and then compressing them in a different archive format.

For example, the Windows version of PowerArchiver can extract the contents of a ZPAQ file, then compress them as various archive types, including the following formats:

  • .PA - PowerArchiver Compressed File
  • .ZIP - Zipped File
  • .7Z - 7-Zip Compressed File
  • .TAR - Consolidated Unix File Archive
  • .CAB - Windows Cabinet File
  • .LZH - LZH Compressed File
  • .RAR - WinRAR Compressed Archive
  • .BH - BlakHole Archive
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Programs that open ZPAQ files

Windows
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Linux
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Verified by FileInfo.com

The FileInfo.com team has independently researched the ZPAQ Archive file format and Mac, Windows, and Linux apps listed on this page. Our goal is 100% accuracy and we only publish information about file types that we have verified.

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