Unsupported Zip format

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The current WinZip version is WinZip 24.0. Please download, install, and try the latest release, if you wish.

WinZip supports and is compatible with the standard Zip 2.0 file format, an open source format on which all standard Zip file utilities are based. Older versions of WinZip do not support enhancements to the Zip file format available in newer versions.

WinZip 24 and later supports all of the following extended compression formats. Versions 21 to 23 supports all of the following, except for zstd compression. Versions 18 to 20.5 supports all of the following, except for zstd compression and MP3 compression. Versions from WinZip 15 to WinZip 17.5 support all of the following, except for zstd compression, MP3 compression, and xz compression.

  * AES is an encryption method, not a compression method. Since AES is an extension to the Zip file format, it reports as compression method 99.

** The version to extract number for AES encrypted files is determined by the compression format that was used.

One way to determine the version of WinZip that you have installed would be to open the About WinZip dialog. If you are using an older WinZip version, you are welcome to download, install, and evaluate a copy of the current version. You can then use the current version with the file that led you to this web page.

You may click one of the following links if you find that the version needed value is either 63 or 50 and you would like additional information.

If you cannot process the Zip file with the current version of WinZip, and if you are confident that the Zip file is a valid one, please submit a ticket to Technical Support and answer the following questions about the Zip file and its origin, if possible.

  1. What version(s) of WinZip did you use with this file?
  2. What version needed to extract was displayed in the WinZip error message?
  3. What Zip file utility was used to create the Zip file?
  4. Is this Zip file available for public download? If Yes, please send the complete Internet location (URL) for the file.

If you think that any additional information you have might be useful, please include that as well.

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