Fix ‘The compressed (zipped) folder is invalid error’ issue

This article will show you how to Fix ‘The compressed (zipped) folder is invalid error’ issue. If you get the error message “The compressed (zipped) folder is invalid” when you try to extract the data of a zipped file on a Windows 11 or Windows 10 computer, this post has ideas to help you fix the problem. This mistake means that the zip file is broken, incomplete, or corrupted, and the extraction cannot continue.

When you try to open a zipped file on your Windows computer, you might see the “Compressed (Zipped) Folder is invalid” error message. This isn’t a problem with just one zipped folder, since people who are affected say that every zip archive they download does the same thing. Even though this problem happens most often on Windows 11/10, it can also happen on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 in some cases.

If you are having trouble with the compressed (zipped) folder is invalid problem, the following steps will help. Here is a list of fixes and methods that other people have used to get rid of the “zipped (compressed) folder is invalid” error. If this has happened to you and you don’t know what to do next, this guide gives you a list of ways to Fix ‘The compressed (zipped) folder is invalid error’ issue. If you want to know more information about this Visit Official Microsoft Support site.

Restart the Windows File Explorer

This problem could be caused by trouble with the Windows File Explorer in some cases. In this case, you could just restart the Windows File Explorer to fix the problem. Now, let’s look at how to start File Explorer again:

1. To open the Quick Access Menu, press Win+X.
2. Choose Task Manager from the list of choices.
3. Click the right mouse button on Windows Explorer and choose Restart.

If the problem keeps happening, close File Explorer with Task Manager and then open it again by hand.

1. To start, follow the steps above to open the Task Manager.
2. Right-click Windows Explorer and choose End task from the menu.
3. Lastly, directly open File Explorer by clicking on its icon on the taskbar. You could also use the Windows search bar to look for File Explorer.

Configure the Folder Optimization Settings

Most of the time, setting up the folder optimization settings helps the Windows File Explorer run faster. Also, changing these settings can help fix problems with Windows files. So, these changes could also help fix the problem. Let’s see how you can change the settings for folder optimization to get rid of this error:

1. Right-click on the area that is giving you trouble and choose Properties.
2. hit the Customize tab, hit the drop-down menu next to “Optimize this folder for,” and choose “General items.“
3. Check the box that says, “Also apply this template to all subfolders.“
4. The changes will take effect after you press Apply and then OK.

Run the File and Folder Troubleshooter

Did you know that the File and Folder troubleshooter from Microsoft is a great tool? This tool helps you find and fix problems with files and folders on your Windows device fast. The “Compressed (zipped) folder is invalid” problem could be fixed with this tool. Now, let’s look at how to run the Microsoft File and Folder Troubleshooter:

1. On the Microsoft page, you can get the File and Folder troubleshooter.
2. Open the program, click on “Advanced,” and then check the box next to “Apply repairs automatically.” Click Next to move forward.
3. Check the box next to Renaming or changing files and folders in the pop-up window, and then press Next. Follow the steps on the screen and restart your device for these changes to take effect.

Repair the Corrupted Zipped Folder

Maybe you’re having this problem because the zipped folder you’re working with is broken. Sometimes the problem is caused by Windows system files that are broken or missing. We’ll use the DISM and SFC checks to fix system files that are broken or missing. So, let’s start by seeing how the DISM tool can be used:

1. When you press Win + R, the Run command box will appear.
2. To open a higher Command Prompt, type CMD and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
3. Type this code and hit the Enter key:
   • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
4. When the process is done, type the following code and press Enter:
   • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Wait until the process is done and then turn your device back on. Here’s how to run an SFC scan from there:

1. Follow the steps above to open the Run command box and a Command Prompt with higher privileges.
2. Type this code and hit the Enter key:
   • sfc /scannow
3. Wait until everything is done. The last step is to close the Command Prompt and restart your device for these changes to take effect.

Reinstall the File Compression Tool

The “Compressed (zipped) folder is invalid” error appears whether or not you use a third-party tool to compress files. If the problem happens when you use a third-party compression tool, you might be able to fix it by restarting the tool. Here’s how to put the file compression tool back on:

1. When you press Win + R, the Run command box will appear.
2. To open the Programs and Features window, type appwiz.cpl and click OK.
3. Find the app you use to compress files on the list, and then click “Uninstall” to get rid of it.

Update Your Windows Device

If you still can’t fix this problem, you might want to think about updating your Windows computer. A new version of Windows will have the most up-to-date features that can help fix bugs and protect against security risks. Here’s how to update your Windows machine:

1. Type “Settings” into the search bar in Windows and then click on “Best match.”
2. Click on Update & Security, then click on Windows Update.
3. Next, click the button that says “Check for updates.” Lastly, follow the steps shown on the screen to finish the process.

What Causes the “Compressed (Zipped) Folder Is Invalid” Error?

On your Windows machine, the “Compressed (Zipped) Folder is invalid” error can happen for a number of reasons. A damaged or broken zipped folder is one of the most typical reasons for this. This could happen if the zipped folder in question wasn’t compressed correctly, got damaged while being compressed, or got broken while being downloaded. Problems with the Windows file system, broken compression tools, malware infections, or even problems with the Windows operating system itself are also common reasons.