Rescue Your Corrupted ZIP Files with These Proven Methods

January 19, 2024 Matt Mills How to 0

ZIP files are an integral part of our daily digital interactions, frequently used for compression and packaging of documents. However, sometimes when we attempt to unzip these files, we encounter errors or find them to be corrupt or damaged. Before you consider deleting these files, let’s explore a solution that could potentially salvage your data.

fix corrupted zip files

The History of WinZip

Since its launch in 1991, WinZip and its compressed file format have been household names for computer users. Chances are, you’ve used WinZip multiple times, and like many, you may have faced occasional errors. Instead of giving up on corrupted files, we recommend trying the following solutions.

Using WinZip Command Line

While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for dealing with corrupted ZIP files, this method offers a high level of effectiveness, albeit with some effort. Assuming you already have WinZip installed on your computer, follow these steps:

  1. Download WinZip Command Line: Start by downloading WinZip Command Line from the official WinZip website. This tool is an official WinZip product and is safe to use.
  2. Copy the File Path: Locate the corrupted file and right-click on it. In the options menu, select “Copy as path.”
  3. Open Command Prompt: Go to the Start menu, type “Command Prompt,” and open it.
  4. Change Directory: In Command Prompt, type “cd” followed by a space and paste the path you copied earlier. Be sure to remove the file name from the path.
  5. Enter the Command: Now, enter the following command, replacing “Test.zip” with the name of your file and adjusting the path if necessary: "C:\Program Files\WinZip\wzzip" -yf Test.zip
  6. Let It Work: The system will prompt you to press any key. Afterward, it will start the repair process, generating a file in the same folder with “Fixed” added to the name. This is the repaired file. Exit Command Prompt and try opening the fixed file to check if the process was successful.

Alternative Method with WinRAR

It may seem paradoxical, but one way to recover damaged ZIP files is through WinRAR, a long-time rival of WinZip. If the previous method doesn’t work, consider this alternative:

  1. Open WinRAR: Launch WinRAR and navigate to the folder containing the damaged ZIP file.
  2. Select “Repair”: Click on the damaged ZIP file (not to extract it), and then click the “Repair” option in the program’s navigation bar.
  3. Answer Questions: WinRAR will ask you where to save the repaired file and whether to treat it as a RAR or ZIP file. Choose the ZIP file option.
  4. Initiate Repair: The repair process will begin, and its duration may vary based on the file’s size. Once completed, navigate to the selected folder to find the version that WinRAR has corrected for you.

What If None of These Methods Work?

While these methods are effective in many cases, there may still be instances where you can’t successfully decompress a ZIP file. In such situations, consider going back to the source from which you downloaded the ZIP file and redownloading it. File corruption can sometimes occur during the download process, and a fresh download might resolve the issue. This is a straightforward step you can take, especially for smaller ZIP files.