The Archive is Either in Unknown Format or Damaged Fix

  

Rollins Duke   
Published: December 12th, 2024 • 6 Min Read

In this blog, we are going to fix the archive is either in unknown format or damaged issue. So, if you facing the same issue then keep reading this blog till the end. Here we will provide you with multiple solutions to quickly resolve whether the archive is either unknown or damaged. Moreover, we will also discuss why users encounter this error and how to prevent it.

The archive is either in an unknown format or damaged and typically occurs when a user tries to open or extract files from an archive like ZIP, RAR, or 7z using compression tools such as WinRAR, 7-Zip, etc. This error indicates to users that the software is unable to recognize the file format or that the archive is corrupt. However, there are several ways to fix this error, all you have to do is, continue reading this article and follow the methods mentioned here.

Why the Archive Is Either in Unknown Format or Damaged?

Several factors can cause the error message, “the archive is unknown format or damaged”:

• The downloaded archive file might be incomplete.
• The file is corrupt due to disk errors.
• You are using software that is unable to recognize the format.
• The archive file is damaged due to viruses to malware.
• You might be using an older version of extraction tools.
• The archive file you might be trying to open is very old.
• Your internet connection is unstable.
• Issues during compression can also cause this error.
• Having a corrupted archive extension.
• The user might have renamed the archive file extension.

How to Fix the Archive is Either in an Unknown Format or Damaged Error?

If you are encountering “The archive is either in unknown format or damaged,” error then follow the step-by-step methods mentioned below to fix it:

1. Redownload or Transfer the File

Sometimes the files are not downloaded properly or become corrupt during the download and transfer process. You can redownload or transfer the archive to fix it using the following steps:

1. Delete the file from your system.
2. Visit the source or location from where you obtained it.
3. Download or transfer the file again.

2. Use Windows Default Decompressor

Rather than using third-party extraction tools, you can use the built-in decompressor on your Windows computer.

1. Simply right-click on the archive file.
2. Click on “Extract All” option from the menu.

3. Repair the Archive

As we discussed earlier, the main cause of the archive is either in unknown format or damaged error is damaged or corrupted files. In this case you must you must instantly get a reliable solution to fix it. You can also use WinRAR.

1. Open the archive in WinRAR.
2. Click on “Tools”.
3. Select the “Repair Archive” option.
4. Choose the destination path and reopen the file.

4. Check and Correct the File Extension

Incorrect file extension also causes the archive to be either in an unknown format or damaged. To fix it, you must check if the file is incorrect and fix it. Here are the steps:

1. Navigate to the Archive file and right-click on it.
2. Select the “Properties” option from the menu.
3. Check the file extension of the archive file.
4. If it’s incorrect, then rename it with the proper extension.
5. Extract the file again.

5. Scan for Malware

Very often, corrupted files are caused by malware. If your file is showing an error the archive is either in unknown format or damaged, then you can scan and detect malware in the file and fix it.

1. Ensure to use updated software to scan the archive file.
2. If you detect any threat, then delete it.
3. Re-download or extract the file after removing the malware.

6. Update or Reinstall the Extraction Tool

If you want your archive file to function properly then make sure you are not using an outdated or malfunctioning extraction tool as it may fail to process the archives. In such cases, you should uninstall to tool and download its latest version.

Why Choose the Advanced Tool?

It is the best and free of cost the archive is either in unknown format or damaged fix solution. Anyone can use this software to recover corrupted or highly corrupted archive files. It is a safe, secure, and reliable solution that provides the exact and secure result. Zip Data Recovery Software offers so many facilities like:

• Supports extracting all the corrupted Zip files and restoring them to the Temporary location.
• Users can operate or install the RAR File Repair tool on any Windows platform.
• During the installation, one can change the default language as per the requirements.
• The tool successfully restores corrupted or highly corrupted Zip files of WinRAR, WinZip, 7-Zip, etc.
• Technical and non-technical users can easily recover files due to the self-explanatory interface of the tool.
• The software allows users to choose the location where they want to save the recovered Zip archive files.
• Secures and maintains the complete structure of extracted Zip data after recovery.

Final Words

The informational guide provided you with all the possible solutions to resolve the archive is either in unknown format or damaged error. We got to know the most common reasons that can often cause this error. Therefore, using various methods like re-downloading the file, repairing, scanning for malware, etc you can easily fix it. However, we have also mentioned the professionally suggested solution that experts use to easily resolve this error.