![WinZip End of Life](https://cdn-website.lansweeper.com/wp-content/uploads/WinZip-22.5-End-of-Life-BP-main-image-e1632756921906.png)
WinZip 23 goes end of life on September 1, 2022. As one of the major file archiving and compression tools, it is important to make sure that all installations in your network are up to date to minimize any security risks.
What is WinZip?
Originally released in 1991, WinZip is one of the oldest and most popular file archiving and compression tools along with WinRAR and 7-Zip. While compressing files is a default Windows feature, WinZip provides additional features that the default Windows solution does not. These include but are not limited to:
- Pack (create) ZIP and Zipx archive files.
- Unpack BZ2, LHA, LZH, RAR, ZIP, Zipx, and 7Z.
- Decode B64, HQX, UUE files.
- Configurable Microsoft Windows Shell integration
- Direct write of archives to CD/DVD
- Automation of backup jobs
- Integrated FTP upload
- Email archives
- Support for ARC and ARJ archives if suitable external programs are installed.
Additionally, WinZip now also comes with new additional apps that provide features outside of the realm of file archiving and compression.
- PDF Express: a PDF reader with additional features.
- Image Manager: single and batch image processing.
- Secure Backup: keep a safe copy of your files on the cloud or locally.
- Share Express: Zip, encrypt, and share files.
WinZip Life Cycle
WinZip’s support life cycle provides support for 3 years after the release of the next version. While unsupported software continues to maintain general support regarding installation and usage. No more updates will be provided for a version that is end-of-life. This includes any security issues that are found which will not receive a patch and you will be required to update to a more recent, supported version.
![WinZip Life cycle](https://cdn-website.lansweeper.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/WinZip-Life-cycle.png)
To check which versions of WinZip you have in your IT environment, we’ve created a specialized color-coded report that indicates if and when WinZip versions installed in your network will be going end of life. Prevent any security issues by ensuring your WinZip installations are supported and get the latest security patches and updates.
![WinZip EOL report](https://cdn-website.lansweeper.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/WinZip-EOL-1024x106.png)