How to Convert ISO to 7Z? Complete Tutorial
Overview: ISO and 7Z are very popular ones when it comes to archive formats in order to save and share large software or game installation files. But, there will be a time you wish to convert ISO to 7Z to compress & save device storage. In this comprehensive guide, we are going to talk about and discuss why people want this file conversion and how it can be done through manual solutions. Along with a professional method to simplify the process securely. But first things first, before we dive into the steps, let’s discuss both formats quickly:
ISO vs 7Z – Quick Difference
| Feature | ISO File | 7Z File |
| File Type | Disk image | Compressed archive |
| Compression | No | Yes (High) |
| File Size | Large | Smaller |
| Encryption | Not supported | AES-256 supported |
| Best Use | OS & boot media | Storage & sharing |
| Easy to Share | No | Yes |
Simply, ISO file is a complete image of all data including the file system and placed in one file that can be written on to a CD, DVD or Blu ray disc. It’s used to push OS images, software installs and recovery environments.
7Z is a compressed archive file format that supports several data compression, encryption and pre-processing algorithms. It applies the most advanced compression format to compress files in order to reduce size.
If you also want to work with other compressed files, then, this blog on how to convert ISO to ZIP will help too.
Convert ISO to 7Z – Possible Scenarios
First one would be if you need to compress the file or save storage space. When you want to share your large installation files with others. Most people have problems uploading ISO’s due to the file-size limit, 7Z archives solve that problem and offer better compression ratios. This is handy also when you finished using the ISO in a bootable form, and want to keep the data secure.
Why ISO to 7Z Conversion?
You will see many points described below to convert ISO to 7Z. Read the following points from below pointers:
- In many cases, it compresses at a higher rate than 7Z files.
- Especially, large software and system ISO files where you don’t like to.
- It’s easier to upload, share or store smaller 7Z archives on cloud storage providers and external hard drives.
- There are many free tool available by which you can easily extract 7Z archive files.
- But it can’t do the same for ISO files or disc images.
- You need to mount them as virtual drives.
- 7Z supports encryption and password protection with the help of AES-256 algorithm.
- Once you do it, your data will be more organized and easy to manage.
Issues Faced by Users with ISO Files
Not everyone knows, but ISO files are large and you cannot handle it too easily. ISOs are too big to email or send through cloud services. Plus, ISO files require mounting software to open, which can be confusing for the inexperienced users. These problems are driving users into seeking from this and get familiar with user-friendly format such as 7Z.
Convert ISO to 7Z Files Using Manual Methods
There are few free methods which you can try to export your desired ISO files into 7Z format.
#1. Export ISO to 7Z File Through WinRAR
WinRAR is used to compress ZIP & RAR files. But, with the help of below steps you can create 7Z archive file:
- Firstly, you need to right-click on the ISO file and find Extract files option over there.
- After that, select the folder through the extracted items.
- Go to the limited selection area and choose Add to archive.
- Select 7Z in Archive format when available.
- Lastly, just tap on OK button to initiate the export process
Note: There are a few versions of WinRAR that will not give you in 7Z format directly. If that’s the case, use 7z as the approach to complete the conversion.
#2. Use Command Line with 7Z Files
If you feel comfortable with commands, 7z has a command line interface that will convert ISO to 7Z:
1. Run the following command given below:
7z a -t7z “output.7z” “input.iso”
2. a – adds files to an archive
3. -t7z – Define the output format to be 7Z
4. “output.7z” – is the name of the 7Z archive.
5. “input.iso” – path to ISO image for converting
This is a good solution for batch processing or scripts.
Limitations of Using Manual Methods
Manual conversion with 7z is possible, but has disadvantages:
- Unless you use script, you can’t convert more than one ISO file.
- There may be cases where you will get complex ISO images that will not have a boot-info or metadata.
- When you convert multiple huge ISO files, then i may take hours and use a lot of CPU.
- Manual processes do not have tracking of progress, customization of format or error handling.
- CLI based commands may not be useful for non-technical ones.
Can I Convert ISO to 7Z Safely?
Yes, it is safe to change ISO to 7Z if the program you’re using does not edit the files. The conversion is lossless, as it only compress your ISO data without changing its content. But it is still possible to end up with a broken ISO – or EXE file. Until, if an unreliable tool is used, particularly on larger files like ISOs.
Manual Vs Automated Approach – Comparison Table
In this small section, we are going to tell you the key difference between both these steps. You will get an idea which method is best suited to your work and more effective too.
| Factor | Manual Methods | Professional Tool |
| Ease of Use | Technical | Beginner-friendly |
| Bulk Conversion | Limited | Yes |
| File Safety | Risky | Secure |
| Time Required | High | Fast |
| Error Handling | No | Yes |
Convert ISO to 7Z Securely – Professional Solution
If you work with large ISO files and often want to export them into 7Z or another file type, the SysTools ISO Converter Software is your smarter solution. One that doesn’t involve all of those manual steps. This is the robust software that prevents corruption, and saves your precious time. No more worrying about complicated steps or loss of data. It makes sure that your ISO file’s structure, folders and metadata are all kept intact while converting it to the format of your choice.
Change ISO to 7Z Format – Software Steps
1. Download & Install our ISO to 7Z converter on your PC.

2. To insert .iso files, press the Add File(s) button.

3. You can select more than one ISO at once. When you arrive at that folder, click on the Open button.

4. Just tap Next & it will quickly convert ISO to 7Z in a seconds.

5. Tool provide you several export options such as ISO, BIN/CUE, IMG, ZIP-ISO and 7Z-ISO.

6. Select the final path where you would like to store your data. Then, hit the Convert button.

7. The selected file is converted into a 7Z. Just hit the OK.

8. And, if you want an even more in-depth report of this conversion, tap the “View Report”.

9. Now, navigate to the destination folder and you will find your Excel data there itself.

Final Verdict
You are facing problems with ISO files and trying to convert ISO to 7Z. When you want fast and secure conversion, then opt for our expert solution to get effective output results. Whereas, going with free tools like WinRAR, command line method can be useful for small tasks, but they tend to fail while dealing with large or multiple ISO files. Any time you need to compress, backup, copy or share your ISO files on Windows PCs, then this application makes the perfect conversion each and every time.
FAQs – Commonly Asked Questions
See your queries answered here in this section to ensure the process to convert ISO to 7Z files.
Q1. Does the size reduces when you export ISO to 7Z?
Ans. Yes, ISO will have very small size if I compress it using advanced 7Z method.
Q2. Is there a possibility to complete this conversion without unpacking the files?
Ans. Yes, with the help of tool, you can directly convert your ISO files, where no manual process is included.
Q3. Will 7Z preserve bootability of the ISO?
Ans. No, the file isn’t bootable after you convert your ISO files to any disk image formats.
Q4. Is 7Z better than ISO for storage?
Ans. However, 7Z is preferable for storage as it provides more compression, while ISO is a better choice when you require a bootable or mountable disk image.
Q5. Can I convert big ISOs to 7Z without corruption?
Ans. Yes, you can change big ISOs to 7Z in just few steps using our described professional solution. Free steps may sometimes not supportive for such huge files and only expert one provides the guarantee of no loss of data during conversion process.