How to Fix 7-Zip Cannot Open File as Archive Error – Guide

How to Fix 7-Zip Cannot Open File as Archive Error? When you’re dealing with large files for a project, archiving tools like 7Zip come in handy. They compress large files into a compression container called an archive. So instead of sending and sharing these files one by one, you can keep them all in the same place. However, sometimes you could encounter the 7Zip cannot open file as archive, which could give you a headache.

These errors happen due to several factors. In this guide, we’ll be showing you how to fix this error using several methods. But before we do, we invite you to check out other 7Zip guides and fixes on 7Zip Help. 

Sources of 7Zip Cannot Open File as Archive File Errors

Before we discuss how to fix this error, make sure that the file format is compatible with 7Zip. There are other archiving software such as WinRAR and WinZip that might work for your file format. These archiving tools are legitimate software that will secure your data.

To determine the appropriate method for fixing the error, we must first determine the cause of the error. Let us first look at the structure of an archive file. 

As we’ve mentioned in other articles, 7Zip is an open-source archiving tool that produces compression containers called archives. The software can create archives in various operating systems like Windows, Mac, and Linux. The archives are composed of four kinds of blocks that carry data. These blocks are the following:

• The start header is 32 bytes in size. This header contains the signature and a link to the End Header
• The compressed data of your files
• The compressed metadata block for the compressed files. This block contains links to Compressed Data, information about the compression methods, CRC, file names, the sizes of these files, and the timestamps.
• The end header which has the link to the Compressed Metadata Block

When there is an issue in any or several of these blocks, you will encounter an error. The most common issue faced by users is the 7Zip cannot open file as archive. Here are some reasons why you encounter this error:

• The archive has a wrong or incorrect header
• The software is unable to open some headers from the start or the end of an archive
• The archive is corrupted and has no definite link to the end header
• The overall size of the archive creates the issue
• The end archive is corrupted or missing

Fixing Archive Errors

Now that we’ve identified where these errors come from, we can now discuss how to fix these errors. To fix these errors, you can try using a hex editor or third-party software to take care of it.

For more advanced users who are familiar with the structure of archive files, using the hex editor would be best. As long as you have the latest version of 7Zip and a hex editor like FAR Manager, then you’re good to go. The official website of 7Zip provided a manual for troubleshooting these errors.

Aside from fixing errors, you can also learn how to run 7Zip through the command line and put passwords on your archives in our other articles.

Using Repair Software to Fix Archive Errors

Another option that you can use in fixing errors is using software to make the repairs for you. It’s quite challenging to learn hex editors if you have a limited background. This is the reason why software like Yodot is a popular option for repairing corrupted archive files.

Using Yodot

Yodot repairs corrupted archives. The software scans everything to rule out the source of corruption. This software extracts all the data that are inaccessible using other repair methods. 

Aside from repairing the “7Zip cannot open a file as archive” error, Yodot can also help you solve other archive issues. These include “not a RAR file,” “RAR archive could not be decompressed entirely,” and other errors that appear while extracting RAR files.

Yodot is compatible with Windows 2003, Server 2008, XP, and Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 OS. Follow the steps below to resolve the error:

1. Download and install Yodot ZIP Repair software on your device
2. Once done, launch the application
3. Select the 7z archive by clicking on the Browse button
4. Click on the Repair button
5. Verify the repaired 7Zip archive files and folders by looking at the Repaired File Contents window
6. Click on Select Folder to specify the location where the fixed 7Zip archive can be saved
7. The repaired archive could now be extracted without any issues

How Do You Fix 7Zip Cannot Open File as Archive

There are several ways to fix 7Zip cannot open fiile as archive. One of the simplest way is that you can try to re-install and re-create the compressed file.

7Zip is a popular file compression and extraction program used by many computer users. Unfortunately, many users have reported encountering the error “7Zip cannot open file as archive” when trying to extract a file. This error can be caused by a variety of factors, including corrupted files, incorrect file paths, or improper installation of the 7Zip program. Fortunately, there are a few methods you can use to fix this problem and get your files extracted.

The first step you should take when encountering the “7Zip cannot open file as archive” error is to check the integrity of the archive you are trying to extract. If the archive is corrupted, the error may be caused by a damaged file. To check the integrity of the file, open 7Zip and navigate to the Tools tab. From here, select the “Test” option to scan the file for errors. If the file is corrupted, you may need to delete it and download a new copy of the archive.

If the archive file is not corrupted, you may need to check the file path. 7Zip requires the absolute file path in order to open the file correctly. To make sure the path is correct, open 7Zip and select the “File” menu. From here, select “Open Archive” and make sure the correct file path is entered. If it is incorrect, you can edit the path and try again.

Another possible cause of the “7Zip cannot open file as archive” error is an improper installation of the 7Zip program. If the program is not installed correctly, it may be unable to open certain types of archives. To fix this issue, uninstall 7Zip from your computer and then reinstall the latest version from the official website.

If none of these methods work, the “7Zip cannot open file as archive” error may be caused by a damaged 7Zip program. In this case, the best option is to download and install the 7Zip Portable version. This version is self-contained and will not interfere with other programs on your computer. After installing 7Zip Portable, you should be able to open the archive without any problems.

In conclusion, the “7Zip cannot open file as archive” error can be caused by several different factors. To fix the problem, you should first check the integrity of the file, make sure the file path is correct, and reinstall the 7Zip program if necessary. If none of these methods work, you can try downloading the 7Zip Portable version. With these methods, you should be able to get your files extracted without any further issues.

Other Sources of 7Zip File Archive Errors

Another error that you can encounter is the CRC error. The Cyclical Redundancy Check (CRC) value is used to check the data integrity of a file. Each file has a CRC value associated with it. When extracting an archive, tools match these CRC values with the existing value of the file.

Errors occur when these two values don’t match. Whenever you encounter this type of error, this means that the CRC value is changed or corrupted. There are many reasons why CRC errors happen, such as:

• Transfer errors. Errors could occur when you move a 7Zip file to another location
• Incomplete downloads. Errors or interruptions while downloading archive files can result in CRC errors during the extraction process
• Other reasons such as malfunctioning of the archiving tool or damage in the physical drive

Other errors could also occur because of the file itself. This is what you call non-7Zip archive errors. Here are the common reasons why you might encounter them:

• Incomplete download
• 7Zip installation errors
• Driver updates

Frequently Asked Questions

7Zip Cannot Open File as Archive: Conclusion

There are a lot of reasons why you might encounter errors while extracting archive files. As long as you can determine the sources of these errors, it would be easier to determine which method will be useful in solving them.

In this guide, we’ve shown you the sources of errors and how you might be able to fix them. In case you encounter the same error, let us know if the solutions presented above are effective. If you’ve got questions or suggestions about our guide, leave us a message on the comment section below.

7zip cannot open file as archive