If you're a fan of using 7-Zip and TAR archives, you probably already know that Windows 11 recently got an update that lets you extract them natively. However, you'd need a third-party app if you wanted to create either kind of archive. Fortunately, this is no longer the case, as the latest Windows 11 beta patch lets you make 7-Zip and TAR archives without needing external software.

Text reading Windows 11 2024 Update over a blue background
The Windows 11 2024 Update is now available — here's what's new and why it's not Windows 12

The Windows 11 2024 Update will bring a ton of changes to the operating system, including better support for Arm devices.

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The Windows 11 KB5037867 Beta build adds some handy features

Showing the new compression options on Windows 11
Image Credit: Microsoft

As Microsoft announced on Windows Blogs, the newest update for the Beta branch has some great new features. The star of the show is the addition of native support for compression methods other than Zip:

We’ve added support for creating 7-zip and TAR archives in addition to ZIP via the context menu in File Explorer. We have also added a new compression wizard that lets you choose even more formats and specify even more details. You can compress individual files with gzip/bzip2 (and more,) or add multiple files to archives in different tar formats with different types of compression. You can also change the compression level and what types of data are stored in each archive.

If you're not a huge fan of compression (and why aren't you?), then perhaps some new emoji will be more to your liking. This update also brings in Emoji 15.1, which includes someone shaking or nodding their head, a phoenix, and a broken chain. You can also set a facing direction for any emoji showing someone traveling, such as walking, running, with a walking stick, and in a wheelchair.

Because this is all on the Beta branch right now, you won't see these additions on a regular release version of Windows 11. However, given how the Beta branch is the final step toward a full release, everyone can expect to see these features appear soon.