Top 7 Fixes for “Compress to ZIP” Not Working in Windows 11

Windows 11 includes a useful file compression feature that makes it easy to free up storage space and send files over the internet. While you can access the “Compress to ZIP” option once Right-click on a file or folderThere may be times when the feature stops working on your Windows 11 PC. Here are the 7 best fixes for the "Compress to ZIP" option not working in Windows 11.

There can be several causes for this issue, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, follow the troubleshooting tips below to restore Windows' ability to compress files and folders.

1. Try using another file or folder.

First, try compressing another file or folder on Windows and see if it works. This should help you confirm whether the issue is system-wide. Right-click on another file or folder and select "Compress to ZIP" from the context menu. Once you do this, Windows should create a ZIP file in the same location.

If you can compress other files without any problems, the original file or folder you're having trouble with may be corrupted.

2. Modify folder optimization settings

Windows 11 includes an automatic folder type detection feature that automatically optimizes your folders based on their contents. If this feature can't correctly identify the contents of a folder, the "Compress to ZIP" option may not work. Here's what you can do to fix it.

Step 1: press the . key Windows + Keyboard shortcut E to open File Explorer Locate the folder you want to compress. Right-click on it and select Properties.

Step 2: Switch to tab Customize.

Step 3: Click on the drop-down menu under “Improve this volume for” Select General Items. Then click Application ثم OK.

After completing the above steps, try compressing the folder and see if it works or not.

3. Change the default application for compressed files

Another reason you may not be able to compress a file or folder into a ZIP file is that the default file association isn't set correctly. Here's how to fix that.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app. Select the Apps tab from the left pane and click "Default Applications".

Step 2: Type .zip In the search box and select the first result that appears.

Step 3: Locate File Explorer and click the . button Default setting For confirmation.

Try compressing the file or folder again and see if it works or not.

4. Run the File and Folder Troubleshooter

Microsoft offers a useful troubleshooter to fix various issues related to file and folder operations on the Windows operating system. You can try running this tool to see if the "Compress to Zip" option works on your Windows 11 computer.

Step 1: Download the File and Folder Troubleshooter From the Microsoft website.

Download the File and Folder Troubleshooter

Step 2: Double-click the downloaded file. Then click Next To run the troubleshooter.

Step 3: Select Options Rename or move files and folders و“Other or I don’t know” And press "the following".

Let the troubleshooter detect and fix any issues, then try compressing the files again.

5. Perform SFC and DISM scans

Corrupted or damaged system files on your computer can also disrupt system processes on Windows 11 and cause the option to stop working. Compress to Zip file About work. Fortunately, Windows includes some useful tools – SFC (System File Checker) DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) – which can help you repair corrupted system files. To run it, follow these steps:

Step 1: Right click on the icon START YOUR and select Bus Terminal (Admin) from the menu.

Step 2: Locate yes When the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.

Step 3: Type the following command into the console and press Enter.

SFC / scannow

Step 4: Run the following commands individually and press Enter After each one to run DISM scan.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Restart your computer after that and check if the issue still persists.

6. Scan for malware

Such problems can also arise if your computer is infected with malware. So, if the SFC and DISM scans don't find any issues, you can Use Windows Defender to scan your system for malware.If the scan detects anything suspicious, follow the recommended steps to eliminate the threat.

7. Use a third-party file compression tool

If nothing works, you can use a third-party file compression tool to compress files and folders on your Windows 11 computer. These custom tools are often more reliable and have more features than the native file compression tool on Windows. 7-Zip is a popular file compression tool that's free to use and can help you compress almost any file or folder.

Step 1: Download and install 7-Zip on your computer.

Download 7-Zip

Step 2: Right-click on the file or folder you want to compress and select Show. More options.

Step 3: Hover your mouse over 7-Zip and select the option “Add to [FileName.zip]” From the submenu.

The tool will compress the file and folder into ZIP file And save it in the same location as the original file.

Pack it tightly

Windows' built-in file compression feature is useful for freeing up disk space. Hopefully, one of the tips above resolved the issue of the "Compress to ZIP" option not working, and now the "Compress to ZIP" option is working on your Windows 11 computer. If that doesn't work, you can use a dedicated file compression app to complete the task.