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ARC 7Z
File conversion

Convert ARC to 7Z

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jun 18, 2026
QUICK ANSWER
Is it possible to convert ARC to 7Z?
Yes - ARC converts to 7Z.

There is no direct ARC-to-7Z converter; the process is extract-then-repack. Use PeaZip or ALZip to extract the .arc (avoid using 7-Zip for this step - it does not reliably support the classic SEA ARC format), then use 7-Zip to create the .7z. Every file inside is preserved unchanged.

2 programs
Also to 7Z: EGG · 7Z.002 · 7Z.001

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert ARC to 7Z?

ARC is a 1985 BBS format with dated compression methods (stored, squeezed, crunched) that is becoming harder to open as legacy tooling disappears. .7z offers better compression than ZIP and is supported by 7-Zip on all platforms. Converting now preserves the files in a format that modern tools will still read years from now.

How to convert ARC to 7Z

PeaZip OPEN-SOURCE

Right-click the .arc in PeaZip and choose Extract, then select the extracted files and add them to a new .7z using 7-Zip's Add to Archive dialog.

ALZip APP

Open the .arc in ALZip and extract to a folder, then repack the output files as .7z using 7-Zip or ALZip.

Programs that convert ARC

ALZip
PeaZip

About these formats

.ARC ARC Compressed Archive

An ARC file is a compressed archive - multiple files bundled into one container. The classic .arc is a 1985 format by System Enhancement Associates (SEA). On Windows, use PeaZip or IZArc…

Open .ARC details →
.7Z 7-Zip Archive

A 7z file is a compressed archive in the 7-Zip format, created by Igor Pavlov in 1999. It bundles files and folders into one compressed container, often smaller than ZIP, and can include…

Open .7Z details →

Quality & what to watch

  • 7-Zip cannot reliably open classic SEA ARC files - use PeaZip or ALZip for the extraction step, then use 7-Zip only to create the .7z.
  • The conversion is lossless - all file contents, filenames, and directory structure inside the .arc are preserved in the .7z.
  • The .7z will typically be smaller than the original .arc because 7z's LZMA compression is more efficient than ARC's older methods.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open an ARC file directly in 7-Zip?
7-Zip does not reliably support the classic SEA ARC format; use PeaZip or ALZip for extraction.
Will any files be lost in the conversion?
No - the repack is lossless; every file inside the .arc is preserved unchanged in the .7z.
Is the .arc extension always the SEA ARC format?
No - .arc is shared by several unrelated formats including FreeArc and game data containers; PeaZip and ALZip handle the 1985 SEA ARC format.