7-Zip command to create and extract a password-protected ZIP file on Windows? [closed]

Question

On Mac/Linux to zip/unzip password protected zip files, I use: Zip:

zip -P password -r encrypted.zip folderIWantToZip 

Unzip:

unzip -P password encrypted.zip 

What are the equivalent command on Windows on the command line (assuming that 7zip has been installed)?

I have been doing research and found that it is not possible to password encrypt using the Java zip4j library. Also Windows does not have a zip command prompt like Mac/Linux

Answer 1

From http://www.dotnetperls.com:

7z a secure.7z * -pSECRET 

Where:

7z        : name and path of 7-Zip executable a         : add to archive secure.7z : name of destination archive *         : add all files from current directory to destination archive -pSECRET  : specify the password "SECRET" 

To open :

7z x secure.7z 

Then provide the SECRET password

Note: If the password contains spaces or special characters, then enclose it with single quotes

7z a secure.7z * -p"pa$$word @|" 

Answer 2

General Syntax:

7z a archive_name target parameters 

Check your 7-Zip dir. Depending on the release you have, 7z may be replaced with 7za in the syntax.

Parameters:

• -p encrypt and prompt for PW.
• -pPUT_PASSWORD_HERE (this replaces -p) if you want to preset the PW with no prompt.
• -mhe=on to hide file structure, otherwise file structure and names will be visible by default.

Eg. This will prompt for a PW and hide file structures:

7z a archive_name target -p -mhe=on 

Eg. No prompt, visible file structure:

7z a archive_name target -pPUT_PASSWORD_HERE 

And so on. If you leave target blank, 7z will assume * in current directory and it will recurs directories by default.