Explorer can't open zip files

eclas said:

Yes but the 'fix' that's needed is when I double click a zip file Absolutely nothing happens. It really is more a curiosity thing than a problem. As I said I use 7-zip but was wondering what was up with explorer.

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Are your Rar files set to open in File Explorer via going to system settings/Apps/Default Apps/Choose defaults by File Type?

Wisewiz said:

Yahbut, you still need to click the Extract All switch in the newfangled "ribbon" after you double-click the filename.

I, too have 7-zip, and there's no conflict with Explorer's unzipping process.

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Not if you just want to look at what is in the zip file. You only needs to extract the zip file if they want to run it.

eclas said:

yes but I'm still curious because it used to work when I double clicked the zip file it would show me the contents.

ok here's my situation made simple...

file is - test.zip
I right click test.zip then select 'extract all...' and it works perfectly.

I right click the same file and select 'open with...\Explorer and NOTHING happens. (which is also what happens when it's double clicked in explorer)

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This may be the same root problem...

I just remembered something. I had a similar problem with 7-zip right after the December patch Tuesday.
Double clicking 7zip didn't open the 7zip file manager. I could still unzip files but double click wouldn't just open the 7zip file for viewing.



In MY case the solution was to just completely uninstall, then reinstall 7zip.
Since you're having the problem with zip files... maybe SFC or DISM... Restore Health would work.
Since Winzip is a Windows file... you might even need an In-Place upgrade to fix the problem.

I could just uninstall and reinstall because 7zip is a 3rd party program.





I'm wondering if this isn't some "undiscovered" problem, with the December patch.
@rdwray had the problem with Notepad2, I had it with 7zip, and you seem to have it with Winzip.


Maybe the problem is with default file associations. I also had an issue where EDGE grabbed control of PDF files, when I had the association set to SumatraPDF. In that instance, all I had to do was just set the association back to SumatraPDF. I also mentioned this in the post in the above link.

@Brink

jds63 said:

Good Program, but at a cost.


Good idea ! Chances something is corrupt.

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There is definitely a problem. It could be as simple as a setting or as complicated as a file being corrupted. If a solution can't be found, an in-place repair install may be needed.

eclas said:

When I double click on a zip file or right click and choose windows explorer nothing happens. Also no error shows in the event log about it.
Any ideas? Thanks

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I couldn't find the root cause but restarting the windows explorer task through task manager temporarily fixes the problem.

My preference is BandiZip. Maybe give it a try and see if the problem persists.

LesFerch said:

My preference is BandiZip. Maybe give it a try and see if the problem persists.

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While everyone is suggesting alternatives to handle .zip files (my personal choice is 7-Zip) none of them integrate into Explorer like its own native support does. It should be able to explore a .zip just as if it were any other type of folder, like this....



...and now that Explorer has native support for other archive formats it can do the same for them, such as for a .7z file.

eclas said:

When I double click on a zip file or right click and choose windows explorer nothing happens.

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The OP should have this functionality too, but it is missing and they'd like it back....

vik23 said:

I couldn't find the root cause but restarting the windows explorer task through task manager temporarily fixes the problem.

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Welcome to Eleven Forum.

Have you tried resetting the default file association for .zip? See post #18

There's a chance that installing and uninstalling BandiZip will reinstate the default Explorer behavior. But also note that the built-in support chokes on some archives (maybe just password protected ones) so it's worth having a third party archiver installed.

A Windows repair install should reinstate the built in support. I would first uninstall any third party archivers before trying that.

Speaking of 7-Zip...
new Beta...

Why can't ms buy 7 zip

WAI said:

Why can't ms buy 7 zip

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Because Igor knows they'll probably feck it all up!!!

I'm in the process of setting up my new gaming rig and I ran into this same exact problem. I've never used Windows 11 before, but I couldn't imagine that they would've done away with such a useful feature.

I'd already saved all of my device drivers and manuals, etc. for my new build, onto a portable SSD that I have for bulk storage. I couldn't open any of the zip files I tried. Finally, I noticed that most of the files were several levels deep and some of the directories had longer filenames. I started wondering about path/filename length. I finally copied the zip files in question to my desktop and then I could open them by double-clicking and the extract all option was showing up under the context sensitive menu again. Now, once I get my network drivers installed, the first thing I need to do is go download the most recent version of 7-Zip. Being able to open from File Explorer like this is very handy, but I'm more of a 7-Zip kind of guy.

I'm not sure if the OP or anyone else was in a similar situation, but I thought I'd post it here in case it's helpful to anyone else.

7-Zip Beta 24.03

Various improvements and bug fixes.