Struggling with the error 'Windows cannot open the folder' is incredibly frustrating, as it can prevent you from accessing important information stored in the folder. The guide helps you diagnose why Windows refuses entry and how to reopen the folder safely, without putting your data or system integrity at risk.
In Windows, opening a folder is usually a simple, instant action. However, in some cases, when you double-click a compressed or zipped folder and attempt to open it, an error message like "Windows cannot open the folder. The compressed (zipped) folder is invalid (or Access to the compressed folder is denied)" may pop up. It can occur on internal drives, external hard drives, USB devices, or network locations.
While the folder itself is still visible, Windows is unable to access or read its contents correctly. It means Windows is unable to verify the integrity of the folder or compressed archive. This article will walk you through why this error causes and how to restore normal access for the compressed folder.
Before diving into solutions, it’s important to identify the most common causes behind the "Windows cannot open the folder" error, as different causes often require different recovery approaches. There are several reasons why "Windows cannot open the folder" may occur:
Since this error is not caused by a single factor, troubleshooting often involves trying multiple methods. Most of these fixes are straightforward and safe to apply if done carefully. You can try one by one until the "Windows cannot open the folder" is resolved. Let's move on to practical solutions.
Sometimes the issue is not the folder itself, but a temporary glitch in File Explorer. Restarting File Explorer refreshes system resources and clears temporary memory issues that may prevent Windows from opening folders. This simple step is often overlooked but can resolve many minor access-related errors.
Step 1. Press "Ctrl" + "Shift" + "Esc" to open Task Manager.
Step 2. Locate Windows Explorer from the list and right click on it, then choose "Restart".
File Explorer will then restart. Try opening the compressed file again to check if the error persists; if it does, proceed with the other methods below.
If the folder is stored on an external drive, USB device, or a problematic partition, try copying or moving it to a different drive. This helps determine whether the issue is related to the storage medium rather than the file itself. In many cases, Windows can open the folder normally once it’s moved to a healthy disk.
Incorrect file attributes can also prevent Windows from opening a folder. Using PowerShell to reset attributes can restore normal access. This method is helpful when Windows prompt "Access is denied", even though the file itself is intact.
Step 1. Press "Win" + "X" and choose "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" to open it.
Step 2. Enter the following command and press "Enter":
get-acl 'E:\Folder1' | set-acl 'E:\Folder2'
Then try accessing the folder again to check if the "Access is denied" error persists.
Windows natively supports only the .zip format. If you attempt to open formats such as .rar, .7z, or .tar, you will need to install a third-party compression software (e.g., 7-Zip, WinRAR). These tools use more flexible parsing method which can often read archives that Windows cannot.
Step 1. Download WinRAR (or 7-Zip) on your computer from Microsoft Store.
Step 2. Locate the compressed files in File Explorer and right click on it.
Step 3. Choose "Extract files" from the context menu. Then, you can check the compressed files in WinRAR.
The error "Windows cannot open the folder" can also occur if the compressed file itself is damages. Repairing it is often the most direct solution. Some third-party extraction tools like WinRAR offer built-in repair features that reconstruct missing or damaged archive indexes.
Step 1. Launch WinRAR and select the corrupted compressed or zipped file.
Step 2. Click on "Repair" on the top menu. WinRAR will attempt to fix the file and create a new repaired version.
Step 3. Choose a destination folder to save the repaired file and check the "Treat the corrupt archive as RAR or ZIP" option as you like, then click "OK".
Wait the process to complete, you can check the repaired RAR file in the designated folder. Open it to see if the error persists.
Disk errors can silently corrupt files and folders and trigger the "Windows cannot open the folder" error. Running the CHKDSK command scans your disk for bad sectors and logical errors, then attempts to fix them.
Step 1. Locate Command Prompt in the Start menu and right click on it, then choose "Run as administrator".
Step 2. Enter the following command "chkdsk G: /f /r" and hit the "Enter" key. Replace the drive letter "G" with your actual drive letter.
After the command completed, try to open the compressed file to check is the error is removed.
System File Checker (SFC) scans Windows system files for corruption and restores missing or damaged components. If File Explorer or compression-related system files are corrupted, running SFC can fix underlying issues that prevent Windows from opening folders properly. Here's how:
Step 1. Run Command Prompt as administrator.
Step 2. Type the command one by one and hit "Enter" after each one:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow
Wait for the command to finish, double click the zipped file to open it.
Malware infections can alter file headers, encrypt data, or block access to folders. Running a full antivirus scan ensures that malicious software is not responsible for the error. This step is especially important if the issue appeared suddenly or affected multiple files at once.
Step 1. Select the drive where the compressed file is stored in File Explorer and right click on it.
Step 2. Choose "Scan with Microsoft Defender" from the context menu. Alternatively, you can navigate to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Security" > "Virus & threat protection".
Step 3. This will automatically perform a quick scan for your drive. Once the scan finishes, you can choose "Full scan" to perform a more comprehensive scan if needed.
Step 4. If any suspicious file is detected, remove or quarantine it.
While the compressed folder access issues can be fixed by using the above solutions, these operations do not guarantee data safety. In some cases, other files in the folder may disappear or become inaccessible during the repair process. When that happens, file recovery becomes your top priority.
MyRecover is a specialized file recovery solution designed to retrieve data from corrupted, inaccessible, or unreadable drive or folders. Even if Windows cannot access the drive or folder, it can scan the storage device at a deeper level and locate recoverable files.
Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer from Microsoft Store or its official site.
Step 2. Run the application and select the drive where the lost files were stored, then click "Scan" to search for recoverable files.
Step 3. You can quickly locate the files you need under the "Type" tab or using the "Filter" function in the top right corner. Choose the files you intend to recover from the lists and click "Recover".
The MyRecover Professional edition supports recovery from crashed or unbootable computer. It also offers preview features and unlimited recovery capacity, making it suitable for complex data loss scenarios.
Step 4. Select a safe location to save the recovered files.
Once the process is done, you can access the recovered files in the destination folder by clicking on the "Browse" button.
The "Windows cannot open the folder" error is often caused by various reasons. By following the methods outlined above, you can minimize data loss and regain access to important files. When any data lost during troubleshooting, the reliable recovery solution like MyRecover can make the difference between permanent loss and successful restoration.