Windows 11, built-in archiver, File Explorer, Neowin, WinRAR, NanaZIP, 23H2 update, data compression, 7-zip, rar.

After much anticipation, Microsoft has introduced the File Explorer archiver built into Windows 11. However, initial reviews and tests conducted by Neowin suggest it may not be all it's cracked up to be.

During testing, File Explorer struggled to match popular alternatives like WinRAR and NanaZIP. Specifically, Microsoft's tool lagged significantly when dealing with 7-zip and rar formats, being two to four times slower, respectively. Yet, it managed to perform on par with WinRAR when handling tar files.

But the limitations don't stop there. The built-in tool doesn't allow users to view unpacking progress or estimate the remaining time. Moreover, it lacks features like password-protected archives and creating archives beyond the zip format.

Such shortcomings raise questions about Microsoft's commitment to providing a fully functional in-house tool. One can only hope that by the final release of the 23H2 update this fall, the company will take user feedback into account and enhance the tool's capabilities.