4 Fixes for “Compress to ZIP File” Option Not Working in Windows 11

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he’s a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.

Try Basic Fixes

Fix 1: Modify Folder Optimization Settings

Windows 11 has an Automatic Folder Type Discovery feature, which automatically optimizes your folders based on their contents. If this feature cannot identify the contents of a folder correctly, the “Compress to ZIP file” option may not work. Here’s what to do to fix it.

Step 1:Press theWindows key + Eto open File Explorer and locate the folder you want to compress. Right-click on it and selectProperties.

Step 2:Switch to theCustomizetab > click the drop-down menu underOptimize this folder for> selectGeneral items> hitApply>OK.

Fix 2: Change Default App for ZIP Files

Another reason you may be unable to compress a file or folder into a ZIP is if the default file association is not set properly. Here’s how to fix that.

Step 1:Press theWindows key + Ito open the Settings app > head toApps > Default apps.

Step 2:Type.zipin the search box and select the first result.

Step 3:SelectFile Explorer> click theSet defaultbutton to confirm.

Fix 3: Run the File and Folder Troubleshooter

Microsoft offers a useful troubleshooter for fixing various issues with file and folder operations on Windows. You can try running this tool to see if it gets the “Compress to Zip File” option to work on your Windows 11 PC.

Step 1:Download the File and Folder Troubleshooterfrom Microsoft’s website.

Step 2:Double-click the downloaded file. Then, clickNextto run the troubleshooter.

Step 3:Check the box forRenaming or moving files and foldersandOthers or I don’t knowoptions > hitNext.

Allow the troubleshooter to detect and fix any issues, and try to compress files again.

Fix 4: Run the SFC and DISM Scans

Damaged or corrupted system files on your PC can also disrupt system operations on Windows 11 and cause the “Compress to Zip file” option to stop working. Fortunately, Windows includes useful tools—SFC (System File Checker)and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management)—that can help you repair corrupt system files.

Step 1:Right-click on theStart icon> selectTerminal (Admin)from the list.

Step 2:Type the following command in the console and pressEnter.

Step 3:Run the following commands individually and pressEnterafter each to run the DISM scan.

Restart your PC after this and check if the issue is still there.

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Last updated on 14 August, 2024

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