October 29, 2023 at 11:01AM
Microsoft has released an optional update, KB5031455, for Windows 11 that adds support for 11 new file archive formats, including RAR, 7-Zip, Tar, and GZ. These formats can now be natively accessed without the need for third-party applications. However, support for password-encrypted files is not yet available. The update also brings 72 new features, including an upgraded File Explorer and a built-in Passkey Manager. It is scheduled to roll out to all Windows 11 users in November’s Patch Tuesday.
Key Takeaways from the Meeting Notes:
– Windows 11 22H2 now natively supports almost a dozen additional archive formats, including RAR, 7-Zip, Tar, and GZ archives.
– The support for 11 new file archive formats was added with the optional KB5031455 Preview cumulative update.
– The list of supported archive types in Windows 11 now includes .rar, .7z, .tar, .tar.gz, .tar.bz2, .tar.zst, .tar.xz, .tgz, .tbz2, .tzst, and .txz, but support for password-encrypted files is not yet available.
– Microsoft has nothing else to share at this time regarding the missing password-protected archive support.
– The new file archive formats were added with the help of the open-source libarchive project, and more formats like LZH and XAR may be added in the future.
– Windows users need to install the KB5031455 update manually through the Settings app and Windows Update.
– The new archive format support will be rolled out to all Windows 11 users through cumulative updates during November’s Patch Tuesday.
– The announcement of additional archive format support was made during the Build 2023 conference in a blog post by Panos Panay, Microsoft’s former Chief Product Officer.
– Windows has supported ZIP archives since 1998, but third-party applications like 7-Zip and WinRAR were needed for other formats like 7-Zip (.7z), RAR (.rar), or gz (.gz).
– The .gz archive format is commonly associated with Linux but is expected to become more useful for Windows users with the Windows Subsystem for Linux feature.
– The KB5031455 update also enabled all Moment 4 features, introducing 72 new features to Windows 11, including an overhauled File Explorer, a new Backup app, a built-in Passkey Manager, and the AI-powered Copilot for Windows.