Troubleshooting 5 Common Issues With ZIP Files

*ZIP files are an essential tool for compression and organizing large amounts of data, but they can sometimes cause frustration when they don’t work as expected.

Several common issues can prevent a ZIP file from extracting or opening correctly, from corrupted files to password protection and large file sizes.

This guide will help you troubleshoot issues when extracting ZIP files so you can fix problems and get back to working with your data.*

How to Troubleshoot Compressed ZIP Folder Not Working

Here are some common issues that may prevent your ZIP folder from working as it should and how to fix them:

1. A Corrupted ZIP File

A corrupted ZIP file typically results in error messages such as “Cannot open file,” “Unexpected end of archive,” or “The compressed (zipped) folder is invalid.”

Sometimes, you can extract part of the file while the rest fails or appears to be missing. This corruption often happens when the ZIP file hasn’t been downloaded completely, transferred incorrectly, or stored on a drive with disk errors.

To fix this issue, first try downloading the ZIP file again. An interrupted or incomplete download is a common cause of corruption, and a fresh download often resolves the problem.

If that doesn’t work, try opening the file with a different extraction tool. These are often more tolerant of corrupted archives and may be able to open or repair them.

2. Password-Protected ZIP Files

Another common issue involves ZIP files that are password-protected. When you try to open or extract these files, you’ll be prompted to enter a password.

If you enter the wrong password, the extraction will fail. This happens because the creator of the ZIP file encrypted it for security reasons. The best way to resolve this issue is to contact the sender or file owner and request the correct password.

While there are tools that claim to recover or remove ZIP file passwords, they’re often unreliable, slow, or even risky to use. If you choose to go this route, be sure to use reputable software from a trusted source and understand that success isn’t guaranteed.

3. The ZIP File Is Too Large To Extract

You might also receive an error message when trying to extract a large ZIP file. Messages like “There is not enough space on the disk” or “File too large to open” can appear if your device lacks enough storage space or the ZIP file includes files larger than what your file system supports.

To fix this, first check that your drive has enough free space to extract the contents of the zipped file. Remember that temporary files may also need to be created during the extraction process, so you’ll likely need more space than just the size of the ZIP itself.

If you have limited storage space, try extracting the file to a different drive or external storage device.

4. Unsupported or Incompatible ZIP Format

Sometimes, ZIP files won’t open because your software doesn’t support the format. If you see errors like “This file is not a valid archive” or “Unknown format,” the ZIP file may have been created using a compression method that your extraction tool doesn’t recognize.

To resolve this, ensure your extraction software is up to date, as older versions of built-in extractors may not support modern compression algorithms.

If updating doesn’t work, try a more advanced tool that supports a wide range of compression formats.

5. Partial or Incomplete ZIP Archive

Your ZIP file may be part of a multi-volume archive. A multi-volume archive is a ZIP file split into multiple smaller parts, often making storing, transferring, or uploading larger files easier.

If you’re missing one or more parts of this archive, you may only be able to extract some of the contents or none at all. This often results in errors like “File is part of a multi-volume archive” or “Cannot find volume.”

To troubleshoot this, ensure all parts of the ZIP archive are stored in the same folder. Multi-part ZIP files usually follow a naming convention such as file.zip, file.z01, and file.z02. These files shouldn’t be renamed, as doing so can prevent the extraction tool from recognizing them.

Compress Your Files with Ease with Smallpdf’s Compress PDF Tool

If you’re looking for a way to compress your PDF documents without zipping them, our Compress PDF tool is the ideal solution. Here are the steps to follow to compress your PDFs:

Step 1: Choose Your Files

Navigate to Compress PDF and click “Choose Files” to upload PDFs from your device. You can also drag and drop your files into the field from your device.

Step 2: Select a Compression Type

Wait a few moments for the tool to process your PDF. Then, you’ll be shown a menu on the right-hand side of the tool asking you to choose between “Basic” and “Strong” compression.

Select the strength of compression that is most suited to your needs and click “Compress”.

Finally, you’ll see a screen where you can download your compressed PDF or export it in another file format, such as Microsoft Word.

Your PDF files are now compressed, making them easier to store and share!

FAQs on Troubleshooting Zipped Files

Why is the ZIP file not compressing?

A ZIP file may not compress if the file size exceeds the compression tool’s limits or if the file format is unsupported.

It’s also possible that the ZIP tool is malfunctioning, or the file is already in a compressed format, like PNG or MP3, making further compression ineffective.

How to fix compressed ZIP folder error?

To fix a compressed ZIP folder error, first check if the ZIP file is corrupted by attempting to open it with a different extraction tool.

If the file is password protected, ensure you have the correct password. You can also try repairing the ZIP file by using certain software. If none of these solutions work, you may need to download or obtain a new copy of the ZIP file.

Is there a better compression than ZIP?

Yes, several compression formats, such as 7z (7-Zip) and RAR, offer better compression ratios than ZIP.

However, ZIP remains widely used due to its simplicity and compatibility across platforms. If you’re looking for maximum compression and don't mind using specialized software, 7z or RAR might be better alternatives.

Why is my ZIP file not working?

A ZIP file might not work due to corruption, which can happen if the file wasn’t fully downloaded or there are issues with the storage device. It may also be password-protected, and you’ll need the correct password to access it. In some cases, the file might be using an unsupported compression format or is too large to extract.

Try using a different extraction tool, repairing the file, or ensuring there’s enough storage space on your device to resolve the issue.