B1 Free Archiver: create and extract archives on Android

Martin Brinkmann
Sep 16, 2013
Apps, Google Android
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The Android operating system does not support that many archive formats by default. It lacks support for file formats such as rar or zip for example, and if you want to open those archives directly on your phone or tablet, you are out of luck unless you install third party apps to help you with that.

B1 Free Archiver for Android is one of the highest rated applications of its kind. It can not only extract more than 30 different archives, but also create them for you if you are ever in the need to pack files on your device.

The program integrates nicely with your device. It maps supported archives format to the application so that you can open archives that you download or transfer with just a tap. This works from the notification area or any other file manager that you may use.

B1 Free Archiver review

Once you have installed the application on your device, Android 2.1 or up is required for that, you can use it directly by tapping on one of the downloads displayed in the notification area of your phone or tablet, or on a file in the system's file manager.

As far as support goes, zip, rar, 7z are supported as well as the native b1 format. The context menu displays a list of actions, like viewing or extracting the archive, that you can run right from here.

b1 free archiver

If you select View archive, it displays a list of files and folders that it contains. Here you get other options, including the extraction of individual files or to open them right after extraction.

The three extract options are self explanatory, basically providing you with the means to extract the contents of the archive to the current folder, a subfolder that is named like it, or to another folder you specify.

The open with action finally allows you to pick another application that you want to use instead.

Instead of having to open archives from the notifications area or default file manager, you can also open it directly from within the app. It provides a listing of folders and files just like the Android file manager does.

The archive creation icon is displayed in the top right corner of the screen. Just tap on it and select one or multiple files that you want to pack. The app can create zip or b1 archives, and supports password protection on top of that.

android create archive

B1 Free Archiver for Android supports password protected archives, and can extract them just like any other on the system, provided that you enter the correct password.

The app offers several other features of interest. If you long-press an archive in the app, you get a large list of actions, ranging from extracting, moving or copying it to sending, renaming or deleting it. Plus, you can add important archives to the bookmarks feature so that you can access them quicker from that point in time on.

Verdict

B1 Free Archiver leaves little to be desired. It can extract all important archive formats, and also supports the creation of archives. While that is rather limit in terms of formats that you can create, it should be sufficient for mobile use.

If there is one thing to criticize, it is the lack of options that you get here. There is no option to select the compression strength for example.

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Comments

  1. bruh said on August 18, 2023 at 1:25 pm
    Reply

    Uhh, this has already been possible – I am not sure how but remember my brother telling me about it. I’m not a whatsapp user so not sure of the specifics, but something about sending the image as a file and somehow bypassing the default compression settings that are applied to inbound photos.

    He has also used this to share movies to whatsapp groups, and files 1Gb+.

    Like I said, I never used whatsapp, but I know 100% this isn’t a “brand new feature”, my brother literally showed me him doing it, like… 5 months ago?

  2. 💥 said on August 18, 2023 at 3:55 pm
    Reply

    Martin, what happened to those: 12 Comments (https://www.ghacks.net/chatgpt-gets-schooled-by-princeton-university/#comments). Is there a specific justifiable reason why they were deleted?

    Hmm, it looks like the gHacks website database is faulty, and not populating threads with their relevant cosponsoring posts.

  3. 45 RPM said on August 19, 2023 at 6:29 pm
    Reply

    The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk that it’s about to be deleted from my ‘daily reads’.

    It’s really like “Press Release as re-written by some d*ck for clicks…poorly.” And the subjects are laughable. Can’t wait for “How to search for files on Windows”.

    1. owl said on August 20, 2023 at 12:51 am
      Reply

      > The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk…

      Sadly, I have to agree.

      Only Martin and Ashwin are worth subscribing to.
      Especially Emre Çitak and Shaun are the worst ones.

      If ghacks.net intended “Clickbait”, it would mark the end of Ghacks Technology News.
      Ghacks doesn’t need crappy clickbaits. Clearly separate articles from newer authors (perhaps AIs and external sales person or external advertising man) as just “Advertisements”!

      We, the subscribers of Ghacks, urge Martin to make a decision.

  4. chessandonions said on August 20, 2023 at 12:40 am
    Reply

    because nevermore wants to “monetize” on every aspect of human life…

  5. Frank Rizzo said on August 20, 2023 at 11:52 pm
    Reply

    “Threads” is like the Walmart of Social Media.

  6. Ashray said on August 21, 2023 at 4:06 pm
    Reply

    How hard can it be to clone a twitter version of that as well? They’re slow.

  7. Paul(us) said on August 21, 2023 at 5:16 pm
    Reply

    Yes, why not mention how large the HD files can be?
    Why, not mention what version of WhatsApp is needed?
    These omissions make the article feel so bare. If not complete.

    1. Paul(us) said on August 21, 2023 at 5:18 pm
      Reply

      Sorry posted on the wrong page.

  8. Marc said on August 21, 2023 at 6:00 pm
    Reply

    such a long article for such a simple matter. Worthless article ! waste of time

  9. plusminus_ said on August 21, 2023 at 7:54 pm
    Reply

    I already do this by attaching them via the ‘Document’ option.

  10. John G. said on August 21, 2023 at 11:43 pm
    Reply

    I don’t know what’s going on here at Ghacks but it’s obvious that something is broken, comments are being mixed whatever the article, I am unable to find some of my later posts neither. :S

  11. Tom Hawack said on August 23, 2023 at 2:28 pm
    Reply

    Quoting the article,
    “As users gain popularity, the value of their tokens may increase, allowing investors to reap rewards.”

    Besides, beyond the thrill and privacy risks or not, the point is to know how you gain popularity, be it on social sites as everywhere in life. Is it by being authentic, by remaining faithful to ourselves or is it to have this particular skill which is to understand what a majority likes, just like politicians, those who’d deny to the maximum extent compatible with their ideological partnership, in order to grab as many of the voters they can?

    I see the very concept of this Friend.tech as unhealthy, propagating what is already an increasing flaw : the quest for fame. I won’t be the only one to count himself out, definitely.

    1. Tom Hawack said on August 23, 2023 at 2:34 pm
      Reply

      @John G. is right : my comment was posted on [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/23/what-is-friend-tech/] and it appears there but as well here at [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/07/08/how-to-follow-everyone-on-threads/]

      This has been lasting for several days. Fix it or at least provide some explanations if you don’t mind.

  12. Tom said on August 24, 2023 at 11:53 am
    Reply

    > Google Chrome is following in Safari’s footsteps by introducing a new feature that allows users to move the Chrome address bar to the bottom of the screen, enhancing user accessibility and interaction.

    Firefox did this long before Safari.

  13. Mavoy said on September 16, 2023 at 2:17 pm
    Reply

    Basically they’ll do anything except fair royalties.

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