Windows – How to stop 7-Zip from automatically downloading and opening a zip file in Chrome

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I have checked the "Ask where to save each file before downloading" option in Chrome settings yet after installing 7-Zip, every time I click on a link which targets a .zip file:

  1. chrome doesn't fire up the download bar like with any other file type
  2. yet downloading starts automatically
  3. (which leaves me no chance to cancel the download for smaller files which arrive pretty fast)
  4. .zip file is saved to my default downloads folder
  5. 7-Zip fires up and opens the file

I can't find an option to disable this behaviour under the options of 7-zip nor Chrome. Having a file automatically downloaded and opened rises an obvious security concern. Has anyone ran into this before or knows a solution?

On last check:

  • Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit
  • Google Chrome Version 31.0.1650.63
  • 7-Zip 9.20

Best Answer

There's nothing you can do in 7-Zip to prevent this. It is Chrome who downloads the file and opens it with its default application.

At some point, Chrome was instructed to open ZIP files automatically after downloading. THis overrides the Ask where to save each file before downloading setting.

There are at least three ways to revert this change:

  • Open chrome://settings/, locate the Downloads section and click Clear auto-opening settings.

    This will cause Chrome to forget the auto-opening settings for all file extensions.

  • Start downloading a ZIP file (e.g., http://www.oneasiahost.com/speedtest/100mb.zip) big enough to make the download bar visible for a few seconds.

    When the download bar appears, right-click the ongoing download and uncheck the option Always Open Files of This Type.

    You can cancel the download afterwards.

  • Close Chrome, open the folder %APPDATA%\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data in Windows Explorer, enter your profile's folder (usually Default) and edit the file Preferences.

    Search a line looking like

    "extensions_to_open": "zip",

    and remove the zip extension from the list.

    Save the changes and restart Chrome.

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