Unable to view / extract files in Microsoft file explorer

I've told you from the start that the built-in ZIP extraction tool in Windows has some compatibility issues. Some ZIP files just can't be extracted using the default tool.

This issue was reported as far back as 2015: Can't Extract zipped Files with Windows 10 built in 'Extract' Utility - Microsoft Community

As I said, it's only certain files, not all ZIP files. So, the problem is intermittent. If you still don't accept this explanation, there's not much more I can do.

I've also mentioned that the only way to resolve this is to report it to the developers. But personally, I don't think it will be fixed anytime soon. Since it was reported in 2015 and still hasn't been resolved, it might be because the developers don't see it as a high priority or it's a legacy code issue that's complicated to fix.

It's understandable that users want a quick fix, but the reality is that for now, using a third-party program is the best workaround. An alternative solution is still a solution; it's not like there's no way around it.

Hello, Ian Calandro-Bitjeman

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

There appear to be some issues with the compatibility of Windows' built-in ZIP extraction tool. Although Windows 11 and earlier versions can natively handle ZIP files, certain ZIP files might not extract properly due to factors like file corruption, unique compression methods, or other irregularities.

In these cases, third-party software like 7-Zip can be more dependable. These programs support a wider array of compression formats and are often better at managing problematic ZIP files.

If you prefer using the built-in extraction tool, it's beneficial to provide feedback to Microsoft. You can do this via the Feedback Hub app in Windows by pressing the Windows logo key + F. Reporting the issue helps developers understand and potentially resolve the problem in future updates.

Yuhao L

Microsoft Community Technical Support

Hi,

I checked with the company that we work with and confirmed that there isn't anything they configured that caused this issue. Even if there was, then this problem would occur across all workstations and not just an ever-increasing few. My personal workstation running Windows 10 doesn't have any issues with .zip files, but my coworkers workstation of the same age and operating system does.

I have spoken with a few technicians and they have informed me that this is a nationwide issue affecting dozens of companies they work with. It's not something on our end, I have confirmed that much, it's an issue with Windows. We need a fix for this, because it's severely hampering company operations.

Hello, Ian Calandro-Bitjeman

You mentioned "The company I work for has been experiencing an increasing issue with our office workstations when it comes to viewing files from .zip files," it suggests that the problem might be related to policies or configurations set by your IT department. These policies could be affecting File Explorer's behavior, including its ability to extract files. Contact your company's IT department because they have the tools and expertise to diagnose and resolve network-wide problems. They can also ensure that any necessary updates or configurations are applied consistently across all workstations.

Yuhao L

Microsoft Community Technical Support

Hi,

Thank you for your reply, but this doesn't solve our problem. The encoding and compression methods of the files we download have not changed, and this is happening at inconsistent times. One moment one of our guys is unable to extract files and continues to have that problem, and two months later the guy next to him starts to have that problem. So we believe that this is an issue with the Windows File Explorer, and it's interfering with our operations. 7-Zip is fine, but that doesn't excuse file explorer being bugged.

So I still want to know why we can't extract ANY zip files using file explorer.