7 Solutions to Lost/Damaged Zip File Recovery
There are only a few things more disturbing than trying to open a Zip file and realizing that it’s damaged. This could be due to hardware failure, virus infection, incomplete downloads, software issues, power outages, file system errors, or human errors. Whichever it is, you are left with the problem of accessing a major file that houses multiple files.
This article offers 7 reliable solutions to lost/damaged Zip file recovery. The first 4 solutions are how to fix damaged Zip files, while the other 3 solutions explain how to recover Zip files in case they were lost.
How to Fix Damaged Zip Files Efficiently
Discussed below are the easy-to-adopt methods you can apply to repair corrupted Zip files:
Uncorrupt Zip File with ZIP Software
There are a couple of third-party ZIP programs available to repair Zip files. Some of these programs are WinRAR, 7-ZIP, DiskInternal ZIP repair, etc. All these programs have similar procedures, but in this article, we will focus on WinRAR.
How to fix damaged Zip files through WinRAR:
Step 1. Download and install the latest version of WinRAR.
Step 2. Launch WinRAR and navigate to the damaged or corrupted Zip file.
Step 3. Click the Zip file, then tap Tools in the toolbar, and select Repair archive.
Step 4. To choose the location to save the fixed Zip file, click Browse, then tick the Treat the corrupt archive as ZIP box, and tap OK to confirm.
Step 5. Wait patiently for the process to complete, then tap Close to finish.
Step 6. Still in WinRAR, double-click the repaired Zip file and in the toolbar, click Extract to.
Step 7. Pick the destination folder you will like to extract the files to. Under the Miscellaneous section, tick the Keep broken files box. Click OK to begin the extraction of the files from WinRAR.
Fix Damaged Zip Files with a File Recovery Tool
Another exceptional method to resolve damaged Zip files is using a professional file repair tool like ONERECOVERY. It’s a reliable file fixer that uses advanced AI algorithms to repair your Zip files seamlessly.
This is the easiest way to uncorrupt Zip files, as it has a user-friendly interface and restores files in 3 simple steps, making it ideal for both beginners and tech-savvy individuals.
It’s also worth noting that, unlike many other file repairing tools that support only one operating system, ONERECOVERY is compatible with both Windows and macOS. In addition to fix the corrupted Zip file, it can also restore the deleted Zip files on Mac and Windows.
Let’s check how to repair Zip file with ONERECOVERY:
Step 1. Download, install, and launch ONERECOVERY software on your computer.
Step 2. Click on the Corrupted File Repair option on the left sidebar, then choose the File Repair tool.
Step 3. Click on Add Files, then choose the courupted Zip file you want to fix to upload.
Step 4. Click on the Repair button. Afterwards, you can Preview the fixed Zip file and save it to your device.
Run CMD to Repair Corrupted Zip File
WinZip (an archive extraction utility for Windows that comes with an additional command-line function) is another great tool to uncorrupt Zip files. You can use it to repair Zip files by entering a Command Prompt.
In addition to fixing damaged Zip files, WinZip can be used to compress multiple files, split large files, and protect Zip files from issues.
If your Zip file is damaged, this is how to repair it by running a Command Prompt:
Step 1. Firstly, download and install WinZip Command Prompt on your computer.
Step 2. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
Step 3. Change directories to the folder where the problematic Zip file is located.
Step 4. Type in “C:\Program Files\WinZip\wzZip” –yf Zipfile.Zip and then press the Enter key.
As soon as you are done with this, WinZip will get to work, repairing the damaged file and opening it for you.
Manually Recover Corrupted Zip File
You can manually fix a damaged Zip file, but you must be cautious because manual manipulation of the Zip file can further endanger the integrity of the file. Hence, this method is recommended for individuals with technical know-how of the Zip file format.
Step 1. Use a hex editor to analyze the structure of the Zip file and single out any corrupted or damaged part.
Step 2. Following the analysis of the hex editor, make necessary adjustments to the Zip file’s header, central directory, and file data.
Solutions to Zip File Recovery on Windows & Mac
In the event that your Zip file is lost or mistakenly deleted, you don’t need to fidget. Explained below are 3 simple methods for Zip file recovery:
Recover Zip Files from Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (macOS)
Usually, when files are deleted from your computer, they are not permanently deleted. Rather, they leave the location where you saved them and go to the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (macOS). The deleted files are retained in the recycle bin or trash till forever, as long as the storage limit is not reached, allowing you to easily restore files.
However, the Zip files are permanently deleted when you use specific key sequences: Shift + Delete (Windows) or Option + Command + Delete (macOS).
To recover Zip files from the recycle bin or trash, these are the steps to follow:
- Recycle Bin (Windows) 🗑️
Step 1. Launch the recycle bin icon.
Step 2. Find the Zip file you want to recover, right-click on it, and select Restore.
- Trash (macOS) 🗑️
Step 1. Launch the trash icon.
Step 2. Find the deleted Zip file, right-click on it, and choose Put Back.
Restore Zip Files with Recovery Software
Another recommended solution to restore Zip files is to use a professional recovery software like ONERECOVERY. This is a recovery tool with a user-friendly interface that simplifies the recovery process for both beginners and experts.
Here are some features that sets ONERECOVERY apart from other recovery software:
✅ It can be used for retrieval of all Zip files whether they are deleted, or corrupted, overwritten.
✅ Compatible with a variety of devices, including HDD, SSD, memory card, USB flash drive, and many more.
✅ Available for both Windows and macOS.
✅ Dual-scan mode for complete restoration of Zip files to their original state.
To recover Zip files using ONERECOVERY, these are the steps to follow:
Step 1. Download, install, and launch the software.
Step 2. Select the folder where the lost Zip file was saved. Immediately you click on it, OERECOVERY begins to scan it and display all scanned files.
Step 3. Choose the file you want to recover and click on Recover . Before restoring the file, you can click on Preview to confirm that the chosen file is what you needed.
Check Backup Copies to Recover Zip Files
You can also recover your Zip files from backups created beforehand. This method is only applicable to people who frequently backup their computer files, as they will be able to take their system back to a former state before the files were lost.
Follow these steps to restore Zip files through this method:
Step 1. Go to Settings, then Update & Security.
Step 2. Click on Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
Step 3. Choose Select another backup to restore files from. Then pick the backup you want to recover and click Next.
Step 4. Choose Browser for files. Pick the file you want to recover and click Next.
Step 5. Select the destination folder you want to restore your file to.
Conclusion
The importance of a Zip file in encompassing multiple files in one place and reducing the overall storage space cannot be overemphasized. But when the Zip file gets damaged or lost, it takes along all other files that were stored within. Hence, why we’ve explained the best solutions for Zip file recovery to help you prevent loss of important data.
For overall best performance, you can explore ONERECOVERY. It helps to uncorrupt Zip files and recover lost files.
Vanessa is a professional editor with a strong foundation in computer information technology. Since graduating, she has dedicated her career to create content in IT fields. In the past three year, she has accumulated sufficient knowledge in data recovery, computer problems troubleshooting and application of multimedia software.
She has been trying her best to bridge the gap between complex technical concepts and accessible, reader-friendly content.