How to repair a damaged ZIP
Choose one .zip archive with ZIP Repair. The tool checks the central directory, local headers, and entry offsets, then records which entries it could decompress and check with CRC32. Recovered named entries can go into a new ZIP, while the report gives a reason for skipped or failed entries.
- Choose one archive with Drop a damaged ZIP here or browse file.
- Review Recovery findings for structural problems and raw-scan results.
- Check Entries for each entry's source, method, size, status, and detail.
- Select Download rebuilt ZIP when the tool produced an archive. Select Download recovery report to save the JSON report.
What happens when you recover a corrupted ZIP
ZIP Repair first looks for the end-of-central-directory record. When its location is usable, the tool reads the central directory and checks each recorded offset for a local file header with the PK\x03\x04 signature. A missing or damaged directory triggers a raw scan for local headers, including entries that the directory missed.
Input: archive.zip
Finding: central directory offset is invalid
Output: archive.repaired.zip
Contents: recovered named entries onlyThe rebuilt file is a new ZIP with new headers, offsets, and a central directory. It does not copy the damaged archive byte for byte. The output uses Deflate compression and includes entries that were recovered and added successfully.
ZIP repair statuses and limits
The Entries table separates detected entries from entries added to the rebuilt ZIP:
- Recovered, verified means decompression succeeded and the CRC32 value matched a nonzero recorded value. A recorded CRC32 value of zero is treated as verified without a comparison.
- Recovered, unverified means decompression succeeded but the recorded CRC32 did not match. The entry can still be placed in the rebuilt ZIP.
- Encrypted, skipped means the entry was detected and listed, then left out because the parser does not guess or crack passwords.
- Unrecoverable means decompression failed or the entry uses a method other than Stored (
0) or Deflate (8).
For a raw-scan entry without a usable size, the parser estimates the boundary at the next ZIP signature and marks the method cell with guessed size. A file above 300 MB produces a recovery report without a rebuilt ZIP. An unnamed entry may appear in the report, but the tool does not add it to the rebuilt archive.
Where damaged ZIP recovery comes up
An archive can still contain readable files after its directory or recorded offsets break. Review the report to separate those entries from files whose compressed data failed to decompress.
Download the rebuilt ZIP when the named entries you need are marked recovered. If the directory is unusable, the raw header scan can identify entries outside it. Save the recovery report when you need the structural findings before opening recovered contents. The tool does not scan an archive for malware.
Choose the right archive repair page
Use ZIP Repair for damaged ZIP structure and entry recovery. Start at Archive Repair Tools when you need a different archive-repair task. ZIP Repair reports structural findings, skips encrypted entries, and leaves the source file unchanged.
Frequently asked questions
How do I recover a corrupted ZIP archive?
Choose the archive with Drop a damaged ZIP here or browse file, then review Recovery findings and Entries. Download rebuilt ZIP when at least one named entry was recovered and added successfully.
Can ZIP Repair fix a broken central directory?
ZIP Repair can scan local file headers when the central directory is missing or unusable. Entries still need compressed data that can be read and decompressed, and the report identifies entries that remain unrecoverable.
What happens to encrypted ZIP entries?
Encrypted entries are listed as Encrypted, skipped. The tool does not decrypt them or guess or crack passwords, and it leaves them out of the rebuilt ZIP.
Does ZIP Repair modify the original file?
The archive is read into browser memory, and any rebuilt ZIP is generated as a separate download. The original file is never written to.
Can I download a recovery report without a rebuilt ZIP?
Download recovery report remains available when the scan produces a report but no entries can be rebuilt, including when the file exceeds the 300 MB scan cap.