Frequently asked questions
What is a .starkzip file?
A .starkzip file is an archive created by StarkZip — like a zip or rar, but with modern security. Contents are compressed with Deflate and, when a password is set, everything (including file names) is encrypted with AES-256-GCM. The .starkzip extension opens only in StarkZip, which you can download free from this site.
How do I open a .starkzip file?
Install StarkZip, then double-click the file — or right-click and choose Open with StarkZip. Encrypted archives will ask for the password before showing any contents.
Can StarkZip open zip, rar and 7z files?
Yes. StarkZip opens zip, rar (all versions), 7z, tar, gz, bz2, xz, cab and iso archives, including password-protected ones. It creates .starkzip, zip, 7z, tar and gz archives.
Is StarkZip free?
Yes — free for personal and commercial use, with no nag screens and no trial timers.
Does it need the .NET runtime installed?
No. The MSI ships a self-contained build — StarkZip runs on a clean Windows 10 or 11 machine with nothing else installed.
How do password-protected .starkzip archives protect me?
Keys are derived from your password with PBKDF2-SHA256 at 210,000 iterations. Each entry and the archive index are sealed with AES-256-GCM, which detects tampering. Even the list of file names is unreadable without the password.
Why does StarkZip keep running after I close the window?
By design: it lives in the notification area (tray) so opening an archive is always instant. To exit completely, right-click the tray icon and choose Quit StarkZip. You can disable tray behavior in Settings.
How do silent / unattended installs work?
The MSI supports standard switches: msiexec /i StarkZipSetup.msi /qn. Per-user install means no elevation is required.