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Convert ARC to ZIP

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Sep 5, 2026
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Is it possible to convert ARC to ZIP?
Yes - ARC converts to ZIP.

There is no direct ARC-to-ZIP converter; the path is to extract the .arc with PeaZip or IZArc, then compress the extracted files into a .zip. The conversion is lossless, though the .zip may be slightly larger because ARC and ZIP use different compression algorithms.

1 programs
Also to ZIP: KGL · IMAZINGAPP · LOCKER

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert ARC to ZIP?

ARC is a 1985 BBS-era archive format whose tools are increasingly hard to find. ZIP is supported natively by Windows, macOS, and Linux without any additional software, making it the safest long-term container for the same files. Converting now ensures the content stays accessible as ARC tooling disappears. See also .7z if you want better compression than ZIP.

How to convert ARC to ZIP

PeaZip OPEN-SOURCE

Right-click the .arc in PeaZip and choose Extract to unpack the contents, then add the extracted files to a new .zip archive using PeaZip or 7-Zip.

IZArc FREE

Open the .arc in IZArc and extract to a folder, then use IZArc or any modern archiver to repack the output as a .zip.

Programs that convert ARC

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 →
.ZIP ZIP Archive

A ZIP file is a compressed archive that stores one or more files in a single smaller package. On Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android you can open it without installing anything - just…

Open .ZIP details →

Quality & what to watch

  • Do not use 7-Zip to open the .arc - it does not reliably support the classic SEA ARC format; use PeaZip or IZArc for extraction, then any archiver to create the .zip.
  • The conversion is fully lossless - every file, filename, and directory structure inside the .arc is preserved unchanged in the .zip.
  • The output .zip may be larger than the original .arc because ARC used older compression methods (squeezed, crunched, squashed) that differ from ZIP's DEFLATE.

Frequently asked questions

Can I convert ARC to ZIP in a single step?
No tool converts ARC to ZIP directly; you must extract first with PeaZip or IZArc, then repack.
Why not keep the .arc file?
ARC readers are increasingly scarce; ZIP opens natively on every modern OS without installing anything.
Will the files inside be different after conversion?
No - the files are bit-for-bit identical; only the outer archive container changes.
What if my .arc file is from a video game?
The .arc extension is shared by several unrelated formats including game data containers; only the 1985 SEA ARC format is handled by PeaZip and IZArc.