Since Windows 11 has native file compression and extraction support, you no longer need third-party tools to zip and unzip files. However, although Windows 11 simplifies file extraction, it may not always go as smoothly as expected.

So, if you can't open or unzip an archive on Windows, here are some quick and easy tips to fix the problem quickly.

1. Try Extracting Another ZIP File

The first thing you should do is try extracting another ZIP file on your PC and see if it works. This will help you determine whether the problem lies with the particular ZIP file you are currently working with or if there is a more widespread issue with Windows' file extraction functionality.

If you don't experience any issues while extracting another ZIP file, the original one you are having trouble with may be damaged. If you need help fixing it, check our guide on how to repair a corrupted ZIP archive in Windows. That said, if the issue is consistent with all the ZIP files, continue with the fixes below.

2. Restart the Windows Explorer Process

Temporary issues with the Windows file system can prevent you from extracting files. Restarting the Windows Explorer process is an effective way to resolve such issues.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open the Task Manager. In the Processes tab, locate Windows Explorer, right-click on it, and select End task from the context menu.

Restart Windows Explorer

Your taskbar will disappear and then reappear once the Windows Explorer process restarts. After that, try extracting your files one more time.

3. Extract the ZIP File in a Different Location

If you lack the necessary permissions to access a specific directory on Windows, you might have trouble extracting ZIP files to that directory. To get around this, extract your ZIP file to a different directory. Pick a location with the appropriate permissions and see if the extraction completes successfully.

4. Extract the ZIP File With the Command Prompt

Windows 11 offers several native options for extracting ZIP files. So, if you're having trouble unzipping files via File Explorer, try using Command Prompt instead.

  1. Use one of the many ways to open File Explorer.
  2. Navigate to the folder where your ZIP file is stored.
  3. Click on the address bar, type in cmd, and press Enter.
  4. In the Command Prompt window that appears, paste the following command and hit Enter to unzip your file. Make sure you replace FileName with the actual name of your zip file. 
            tar -xf FileName.zip
    Extract ZIP File With Command Prompt

5. Use a Third-Party File Extraction Tool

Since Windows' file extraction support is quite basic, you'll likely encounter occasional problems. Luckily, there's no shortage of third-party file extraction apps for Windows. 7-Zip is one such file extraction tool you can download and use to unzip files.

  1. Download and install 7-Zip on your PC.
  2. Right-click on the ZIP file you want to extract and select Show more options from the resulting menu.
  3. Select 7-Zip > Extract files.
  4. Specify where you want to extract files in the Extract to field and hit OK.
    Extract ZIP File Using 7Zip

6. Perform Some Basic Windows Fixes

If you still cannot extract files on Windows at this point, you can resort to some common fixes to resolve the issue.

  • Run the SFC Scan: Such problems can occur due to damaged or corrupted system files. Running the SFC scan can help you repair your PC's system files and resolve the issue.
  • Scan for Malware: A virus infection could disrupt Windows operations and trigger strange errors when extracting files. You can run a full system scan using PowerShell or Windows Defender to overrule this possibility.
  • Perform a Clean Boot: Extracting your ZIP files after performing a clean boot will allow you to avoid any interference caused by third-party apps and services. If this solves your problem, you must identify and remove any suspicious programs on your PC.

Extract Your ZIP Files With Confidence in Windows 11

With any luck, one or more of the above fixes should help you resolve the underlying issue, and you should be able to unzip files as before. However, if none of the solutions prove effective, you can use a free online service to extract your ZIP files.