Make 7-Zip extract to folder when double-clicking archives. (based on http://superuser.com/a/447791)

7-zip-default-extract.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.001\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.001\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.001\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.7z\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.7z\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.7z\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.arj\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.arj\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.arj\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.bz2\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.bz2\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.bz2\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.bzip2\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.bzip2\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.bzip2\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.cab\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.cab\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.cab\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.cpio\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.cpio\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.cpio\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.deb\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.deb\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.deb\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.dmg\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.dmg\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.dmg\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.fat\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.fat\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.fat\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.gz\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.gz\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.gz\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.gzip\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.gzip\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.gzip\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.hfs\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.hfs\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.hfs\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.iso\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.iso\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.iso\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.lha\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.lha\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.lha\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.lzh\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.lzh\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.lzh\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.lzma\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.lzma\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.lzma\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.ntfs\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.ntfs\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.ntfs\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.rar\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.rar\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.rar\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.rpm\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.rpm\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.rpm\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.squashfs\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.squashfs\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.squashfs\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.swm\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.swm\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.swm\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.tar\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.tar\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.tar\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.taz\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.taz\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.taz\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.tbz\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.tbz\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.tbz\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.tbz2\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.tbz2\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.tbz2\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.tgz\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.tgz\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.tgz\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.tpz\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.tpz\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.tpz\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.txz\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.txz\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.txz\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.vhd\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.vhd\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.vhd\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.wim\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.wim\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.wim\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.xar\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.xar\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.xar\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.xz\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.xz\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.xz\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.z\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.z\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.z\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.zip\shell]
@="extract"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.zip\shell\extract]
@="Extract to Folder"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\7-Zip.zip\shell\extract\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\7zG.exe\" x \"%1\" -o*"

@Xarishark Try removing the file associations in 7-Zip's settings. I haven't tried that out myself (I'm currently not on a Windows system), but it might do what you want? Alternatively, you can always run regedit and remove the individual keys manually

No idea why this is not an option in the program settings, thanks a bunch man.

Sadly this doesn't appear to work on Win11. After merging with registry, double clicking ZIP breaks file association, requiring it to be re-associated, then when double clicking briefly opens a CMD window which then disappears.

Standard practice in older versions of Windows was to just dump file associations into HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, which means that user B installing a program of their choice would clobber the file associations for software previously installed by user A. XP had a weird bodge that let you reassign a file type to another program on a per-user basis but such associations did not allow verbs (Edit, Print etc).

From either Vista or 7 onwards, a new arrangement was introduced. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT still defines the file types, but it is no longer responsible for file associations. Each user is free to associate any filename extension with any of the available types for that extension. For example, they can choose whether .html files open in Edge, Firefox or Chrome, without affecting any other user’s choice.

This process requires an additional set of Registry entries that define the program itself, along with all the file types it provides, and this is how Windows is now able to offer a user an intelligent set of alternatives.

I just tested 7-ade in Windows 11, and it works just fine. I installed 7-Zip and then 7-ade, then double-clicked a zip file, and Windows 11 offered 7-ade as a choice for opening zip files. The zip file unpacked just fine.

The .reg file above is a strange one, because it does not introduce a new application, so I am unclear how exactly Windows is meant to interpret the directives. Besides, there is also no single sensible action that can be put into a command line: you have to examine the archive contents to see whether it has more than one item at the root, and thus whether an enclosing folder is needed. Yes it would be nice if 7-Zip did all this automatically, but it doesn’t. Hence 7-ade.

The script above is no longer working in 23H2 on its own with ZIP files as Windows Explorer keeps intercepting compressed files and prevent them from opening in programs like 7zip.

There is a bypass to that by going to Settings > Applications > Default Apps

and searching for extension .zip.

Then, but clicking on Explorer, you can change the association to a different program. If you change it to 7-Zip GUI, the files will be associated in the system to 7zip and double click on the file to extract will work (after applying above script).

When setting up my new PC, I installed 7-Zip ZS, which supports Zstandard, instead of the original 7-Zip. The installation path of 7-Zip ZS is the default: C:\Program Files\7-Zip-Zstandard.

Now, I applied the .reg file that I used on my old PC, but it didn't work properly. Upon further investigation, I found out that the reason the .reg file worked on the old PC was because "7-Zip ZS was installed under C:\Program Files\7-Zip" + "In the older version of 7-Zip ZS, the identifier for the file association-related registry was the same as the 7-Zip mainline (it has since been changed to 7-Zip-Zstandard in the latest version)."

After some trial and error, I created the following new .reg file (7-zip-zstandard-default-extract.reg). It allows double-clicking to extract all extensions supported by 7-Zip ZS, including .zstd, which was not included in the original registry file.

You should be able to apply it by following the steps below:

1. Open C:\Program Files\7-Zip-Zstandard\7zFM.exe, go to Tools -> Options -> System, and associate compressed files with 7-Zip ZS for both the current user and all users.
2. Apply 7-zip-zstandard-default-extract.reg to the system.
3. If, at this point, files like .zip are still associated with Explorer, change the default app for the extension from the file properties to "7-Zip GUI" (C:\Program Files\7-Zip-Zstandard\7zG.exe) (note that it's not 7zFM.exe).
4. At this point, you should be able to double-click to extract .zip files, and the icons for .zip and other compressed files should have changed to those of 7-Zip ZS. If it’s not working properly, try restarting the system.