example-file.com

Archives

Sample archive files in ZIP, RAR, 7Z, and GZ (tar.gz), including a 1GB file for large-upload testing.

What these files actually are

Each file below is a real, valid archive - built with zip, 7z, and tar+gzip around real sample content, plus one small real RAR fixture - so opening or extracting it actually works.

Are these files safe to download?

Every sample file is generated by us — no executable code, no macros. Files are served over HTTPS from our CDN, each with a SHA-256 checksum so you can verify your download and a link to an independent VirusTotal scan report.

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Common use cases

Backup pipeline testing

Push a large archive through a backup or sync job to see how it handles a big single-file transfer.

Multipart/chunked upload testing

Use the largest archive to test resumable or chunked upload behavior and timeout handling at scale.

Extraction-service negative testing

Confirm an unzip or extraction service errors cleanly on an invalid archive instead of hanging or crashing.

Storage quota testing

Fill a test bucket or folder with archives of varying sizes to see how the system behaves near a quota.

Formats & variants

ZIP
The most universally supported archive format, with native OS support on Windows and macOS.
RAR
Proprietary format common for media releases; needs a dedicated app to extract.
7Z
Open format that typically gives the best compression ratio of the four.
GZ (.tar.gz)
Common on Unix and Linux systems, usually paired with tar for multi-file archives.

Frequently asked questions

Will these actually extract?
Yes. Each one is a real, valid archive - ZIP, 7Z, and TAR.GZ bundle real sample files, and even the RAR is a genuine (if minimal) archive - so extraction works with any standard tool.
What are they useful for, then?
Checking an upload size limit on a website or app, accepted archive extensions, an email attachment limit, or storage and bandwidth handling.
How big is the largest file?
About 10MB - big enough to exercise chunked or resumable upload handling without requiring a huge download just to test with.
Can I use these in an automated test suite?
Yes. Each file has a stable, direct URL, so you can fetch it in a CI pipeline instead of committing large binary fixtures to your repository.
Which formats are available?
ZIP, RAR, 7Z, and GZ.