7z.py

Python ctypes interface for 7z.dll (the 7-Zip archive library).Supports reading, extracting, and creating 7z archives with optional password protection and real-time progress callbacks - all via the native 7-Zip COM interface, no subprocess required.

Windows only - requires a 7z.dll for the matching architecture. Bundles 7z.dll for x64, x86, and ARM64.

Installation

uv add 7z.py

or

pip install 7z.py

Python 3.12+ and Windows are required.

Quick start

List entries

from py7z import ArchiveReader

with ArchiveReader("archive.7z") as reader:
    for entry in reader.list_entries():
        print(entry.path, entry.size)

Extract all

from pathlib import Path
from py7z import ArchiveReader

with ArchiveReader("archive.7z") as reader:
    reader.extract_all(output_dir=Path("out/"))

Create an archive

from pathlib import Path
from py7z import ArchiveWriter, ArchiveEntryInput

entries = [ArchiveEntryInput.from_path(p) for p in Path("src/").rglob("*")]

with ArchiveWriter("archive.7z") as writer:
    writer.write(entries)

Progress callbacks

from py7z import ArchiveWriter, ArchiveEntryInput, ProgressInfo

def on_progress(info: ProgressInfo) -> None:
    print(info.summary)

entries = [ArchiveEntryInput.from_path(p) for p in Path("src/").rglob("*")]

with ArchiveWriter("archive.7z") as writer:
    writer.write(entries, progress_cb=on_progress)

ProgressInfo.summary produces output like:

 42.3%  9.5 MB/s  elapsed 0:05  rem 0:02  [3/5 files]  'src/foo.py'

Password protection

# Create
with ArchiveWriter("secret.7z", password="hunter2") as writer:
    writer.write(entries)

# Extract
with ArchiveReader("secret.7z", password="hunter2") as reader:
    reader.extract_all(output_dir=Path("out/"))

Platform support

License

MIT - see LICENSE. Bundles 7z.dll (LGPL-2.1-or-later).

About Modding Forge

7z.py was built for the Python tooling powering Modding Forge - a community dedicated to Skyrim modding. If you enjoy modding or want to connect with other modders, come say hi!