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What Does Archive is Corrupted Mean? [+Common Causes]
Learn how to recover your files safely and in no time
5 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Trouble opening your archive could maybe mean it’s corrupted.Data corruptioncan do a lot of damage, only part of which islosing personal information. That’s why you have to act quickly.
So, what does archive is corrupted mean? What causes it, and how to fix it? Let’s get right to it.
What does archive is corrupted mean?
An archive contains multiple files into one – something that’s extremely useful for data storage or transfer. But what happens if one is damaged? A corrupt archive is a broken one – you will be denied access and extraction to its content.
So, we’re looking atloss of important informationat best andsystem corruptionat worst. One can (accidentally) damage an archive while editing, deleting, or transferring. Typically, something interrupts the writing or encoding of the file.
Not having access to your filescan be pretty frustrating, especially when you don’t know the reason. Let’s explore the most common causes of archive corruption:
Why do archive files get corrupted?
Thinking your information is lost forever could be discouraging when faced with a corrupted archive issue. Keep reading for some valuable tips on how to try to recover it:
How do I fix a corrupted archive?
1. Download the archive again
If an interrupted download process or a transfer error damaged the archive, you could try downloading it again. Alternatively, you can use a different source if we’re talking about online software or data.
This way, you may not have to revert to actual archivecorruption recovery attempts.
2. Repair the archive with WinRAR
WinRAR is a valuable program not just for viewing archive files. You can also use it to convert, virus scan, encrypt,(force) extract data, backup, or even repair your files.
However, the degree of success depends on the severity of corruption, so in some complex cases, this may not be enough.
3. Force-extract the files
4. Use third-party repair software
Sometimes, when data corruption is too severe, the above solutions won’t lead to successful results. If that’s the case with your files, it might be time to trytrusted third-party recovery software.
There are excellent freetools to help fix corrupt archive files. You can even find reliable online alternatives.
Though, remember that even if you finally manage to access your file, it’s still possible that they might be infected. Scan them with areliable antivirus programto make sure you’re safe.
What does archive is corrupted mean? Congrats, now you know not just the answer to this question but also what causes it and how to fix it.
It might also be helpful to learn what to do if youcan’t extract your ZIP files.
We hope you found this article useful and that it helped solve your problem. If you need further assistance or information, don’t be shy to use the comment section below.
More about the topics:Fix corrupt files,Windows 11
Loredana Harsana
Windows Software Expert
Loredana is a passionate writer with a keen interest in PC software and technology. She started off writing about mobile phones back when Samsung Galaxy S II was on top of the world and she fell in love with tech of all sorts.
Whenever she’s not at her work desk, you’ll find her enjoying refreshing tea flavors, spilling stories on paper, and listening to the radio.
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Loredana Harsana
Windows Software Expert
Loredana is a tech enthusiast who tackles mobility, privacy, and networking in easy-to follow guides for everyone.
