The ZIP format is universally used for sharing and storing data. Unfortunately, the ZIP format is not flawless. It is vulnerable to corruption.
Despite your best efforts, you may encounter ZIP files refusing to unzip. The causes for this may range from incorrect compression to physical damage. This might make you question – how to extract a corrupted ZIP file? Fortunately, the answer isn’t too daunting. There are robust tools that are specifically designed to help retrieve or extract data from corrupt ZIP files. Hence, you don’t have to live in fear of losing your sensitive data forever because the file is corrupted or damaged.
Also, there are instances when the file isn’t unzipping because it hasn’t been downloaded properly. In this case, you must check your system’s Wi-Fi connection and ensure you are connected to a stable connection. Sometimes, it may seem you are connected to the Internet, but there’s an internal error. You can use Wi-Fi analyzer tools to confirm you are on the fastest possible connection so there’s no error when downloading the file. The rest of the issues can be solved by the tools mentioned below.
Let’s look at the popular tools for this purpose.
WinRAR
WinRAR is the most widely used file compression software. Besides compressing files, the software is capable of repairing corrupted ZIP files.
Stellar File Repair
Stellar File Repair is one of the most trusted file repair tools. It is used for recovering and repairing the contents of Excel, ZIP files, Word Documents, PowerPoint, etc. The tool features a user-friendly interface that makes it easier for everyone to use this tool, even without any experience.
The file repair tool has the ability to repair corrupt ZIP files without loss or damage of contents. You can utilize the tool to recover the contents of the corrupted file to a new location. Regardless of how corrupt or damaged the archives might be, this tool does the job. Also, you can also use the software to recover data from virus-affected archives.
DataNumen ZIP Repair
DataNumen ZIP Repair is free software and does a good job. But if you want to use it for business uses, there’s a price tag.
Once the program is installed, you’ll see a welcome screen. If you want to use it for free, choose ‘Continue Personal, non-commercial use.’
You will find the Repair tab on the home screen. You can even choose batch repair if you are working with multiple corrupted files and need to retrieve them all. Simply choose the ZIP file you wish to repair and the destination where you want to save the recovered files. Then, click Start Repair.
Once the repair is complete, you will see the recovered files in your chosen destination.
ZIP2Fix
One of the most straightforward repair tools is ZIP2Fix. It can quickly retrieve files from a corrupted or damaged disk. Install the program and open the corrupted file. Then, the program will automatically start the retrieval process.
There’s no need to click here and there when using this program. There’s no need to browse through any desired category.
After the recovery process, the repaired files will be found in the source directory by default.
PowerArchiver
PowerArchiver is another freeware, and it does a decent job. The program helps to recover data from corrupted or broken ZIP files.
When using this program, you can retrieve files by going to the Tool menu and choosing the Repair ZIP option. Then, you must choose the file you want to recover. This can be done by entering the file’s path manually and hitting the Start option.
However, there’s a slight drawback. The program only recovers the accessible data and ignores the inaccessible ones.
Aryson ZIP Repair Tool
Aryson ZIP Repair Tool is an effective and fuss-free tool to extract damaged, corrupted, or inaccessible ZIP files. The program doesn’t change or damage the contents in any way. It supports all archive types, and the retrieved files are saved at a user-specific location.
Also, the program works seamlessly with data that was split into different archives. You can use this program to recover files in bulk.
ZipRepair Pro
ZipRepair Pro is the best tool for users who are not tech-savvy. The tool is extremely friendly to beginners, and there’s no steep learning curve. The interface is intuitive, and the job gets done instantly.
Conclusion
ZIP files store large amounts of data. These compressed files can be easily shared. Theoretically, the format is perfect! But there’s a catch. ZIP files get corrupted or damaged due to several circumstances, such as the download is incomplete or the files are physically damaged. If you encounter such a problem, use the recovery tools mentioned above to recover your data and stay on track.
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