Compressing a file uses various compression and encryption techniques to reduce the file size and faster data transmission. Windows can easily extract and decrypt data from a compressed file unless it runs into issues with the compressed file, its location, or its encryption technique. In these cases, Windows explorer cannot complete the extraction.
Typically, if you are trying to extract a file that is in a protected area, Windows is likely to display a “Windows cannot complete the extraction” error message. Besides this, several reasons, like advanced encryption or longer filename, may cause the OS to halt the extraction process.
If the compressed file is protected, simply moving the file to your desktop and extracting the file should fix the issue. But, if the cause is something else, you may need to perform other steps to fix the issue.
What Causes the “Windows cannot complete the extraction” Error?
How to Fix the “Windows cannot complete the extraction” Error?
Let us start with the solution to the most common reason you get the error message, Compressed file in a protected area.
Extract the file to a different Location
Extracting a ZIP file that is protected or extracting a ZIP file in a protected location is likely to cause an error message saying, “Windows cannot complete the extraction.” The protected area includes the folder where you do not have write access or folders that arepassword protected.
For example, folder from another user’s account that you may access from your user account are considered as protected area.
Fixing this is rather simple. You just need to move the compressed file to a different location that is not protected.
Once you do this, Windows should extract the file without any error message.
Windows only support a maximum path length of 256 characters. This includes file name, file path, and namespace. If the compressed file you are trying to extract has a long file name or is in a location where thepath is too long, Windows will not perform the action.
To fix this, you may rename the file to something short so that it does not exceed the limitation of 256 characters. Alternatively, you can also move the file to the desktop to decrease the file path.
you may also permanently enable long paths by changing the Registry’s settings.However, changing wrong values in the registry may cause some serious issues in the OS.Therefore, ensure youback up the registrybefore changing any of its values.
Re-download the ZIP File
