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lrg4you edited this page Aug 7, 2026 · 1 revision

FAQ


Why does every extracted file show today's date?

It doesn't. LRGEX Compress (v1.4.1+) preserves your original modification and creation timestamps exactly. If you're seeing today's date on extracted files, you're using an old version — update via the in-app updater or download the latest from Releases.


Why are my files larger after compression? I thought compression made things smaller.

LRGEX uses zstd at its fastest level (level 1). This prioritizes speed over ratio. For data that's already compressed (videos, images, game ISOs, .zip files, etc.), there's almost nothing to compress — the "compressed" archive will be nearly the same size as the original. That's normal and expected.

If you need the smallest possible archive, use 7-Zip with a high compression level instead. LRGEX trades size for speed — if you'd rather have fast than small, LRGEX is the right tool.


Does LRGEX Compress support encryption / passwords?

No. Encryption is not supported. If you need encrypted archives, use 7-Zip or WinRAR.

LRGEX's design philosophy is "two actions, no settings." Encryption adds settings (passwords, key derivation, strength levels) that complicate the simple right-click workflow.


Can I choose a compression level?

No. There are no levels, no settings, no options. LRGEX always uses zstd level 1 (fastest) with all CPU cores. This is the design — you never have to think about what level to pick.


What is .zgx?

.zgx is LRGEX Compress's native archive format. It's a tar.zst file — a standard tar stream compressed with zstd. It's not a proprietary format; any tool that can read .tar.zst can read .zgx.


Can LRGEX extract .zip and .rar?

Yes. Right-click any .zip or .rar file → LRGEX → Extract. You don't need WinRAR or 7-Zip installed.

Note: LRGEX can only compress to .zgx. It can extract .zgx, .zip, and .rar, but it cannot create .zip or .rar archives.


Does it work on Mac / Linux?

No. LRGEX Compress is Windows 10/11 only. It relies on Windows-specific features (Explorer context menu integration, NTFS metadata, Windows file attributes).


Do I need administrator rights?

No. Installation is per-user — no UAC prompt, no admin required. It installs to your %LOCALAPPDATA% folder and registers the context menu for your user only.

The only time you'll see an admin prompt is if you extract an archive containing symbolic links — Windows requires admin to create symlinks. LRGEX will ask once; you can say no and the links will be skipped.


Will a crash or power loss corrupt my archive?

No. LRGEX writes to a .part temporary file during compression. The final .zgx only appears when compression is 100% complete and successfully flushed. If your PC crashes mid-compress, you'll see a .part file (obviously incomplete) instead of a fake-complete .zgx. Just delete the .part and try again.


Is there telemetry or tracking?

No. Zero telemetry, zero tracking, zero phone-home. The only network request is the version check (to see if an update is available), and even that is just a tiny JSON fetch — no data is sent anywhere.


Is it really free?

Yes. MIT licensed, open source, no ads, no trial, no "pro" version. Free forever.


How do I update?

LRGEX checks for updates automatically. When a new version is available, you'll see a prompt. One click installs it. Every update is cryptographically signed (Ed25519) — a tampered update will never install.

You can also download the latest installer manually from Releases and run it over your existing install.