Windows 11 zipped folders / files immediately crashes File Explorer

I contacted Winzip technical support, and this is what they told me to do:

"Hello, Thank you for contacting WinZip Support. We understand how this problem has been frustrating for you, and apologise for the inconvenience caused. If you are experiencing a specific issue where WinZip crashes when you try to open a ZIP file using File Explorer but works fine when you open it directly within WinZip, there could be a potential conflict or issue with the integration between WinZip and File Explorer. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve the problem: 1. Update WinZip: Ensure that you have the latest version of WinZip installed on your computer. Updating to the latest version can often resolve compatibility issues and address known bugs. 2. Reinstall WinZip: Try uninstalling and reinstalling WinZip to ensure that all the necessary components and integrations are properly set up. This process can help resolve any misconfigurations or corrupted files that might be causing the issue. 3. Check File Associations: Verify that ZIP files are correctly associated with WinZip in your system settings. Here's how to do it: * Open the Control Panel on your computer. * Go to "Default Programs" or "Default Apps" (depending on your Windows version). * Select "Set Associations" or "Choose Default Apps by File Type." * Look for ".zip" or "ZIP Archive" in the list of file types and make sure it is associated with WinZip. If not, select WinZip from the available options or browse for the WinZip executable file manually. 4. Disable Shell Extensions: Some third-party shell extensions may interfere with WinZip's integration with File Explorer. You can try disabling non-Microsoft shell extensions to see if it resolves the issue. You can use a tool like ShellExView to manage shell extensions and disable them selectively. 5. Run WinZip in Compatibility Mode: Right-click on the WinZip executable file and select "Properties." In the "Compatibility" tab, check the option to run WinZip in compatibility mode for your specific version of Windows. Apply the changes and see if it helps resolve the crashing issue."

The item that solved the problem was item 4 above. Please refer to my post of May 24, 2023 for specifics on what I did.

Let me know if you still have a problem.

As has been shared in earlier strings, downloading a safe copy of the ShellExView utility is the first step. You run the program, and look for red shaded extentions, which appear to be most often adobe CS4 related. You disable these extensions, and the problems should be fixed.

I was having similar problems on a brand new Dell XPS 9530. ANY click on a ZIP file ... or even entering a folder containing a ZIP file ... would crash Windows Explorer. After seeing a number of posts on this and other forums, I checked what applications I had installed that did anything with ZIP files.

It appears that the app causing DLL conflicts is Avenquest PowerDesk 9. Using a clean minimum Win11 virtual machine in VMWarePro17, I confirmed that clicking on a ZIP file in Windows Explorer caused no problems. I then Installed PowerDesk 9 ... and when I restarted the VM, Windows Explorer crashed when clicking on a ZIP file. Removing PowerDesk 9 eliminated the problem.

I don't know if this will help anyone else, but for any that are using PowerDesk 9, uninstalling it will solve the problem.

Hi,

I'm on windows 11. I had the same problem for a long time, trying a lot of solution without any result except this one that fix the problem for me.
I found that the crash is in relation with Adobe CS4 that is installed on my computer.

To fix it

1. I have installed ShellExView : https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html
2. Search for Adobe Drive CS4 / Context Menu in the list
3. Disable it
4. relaunch explorer

Hope it can help.

Hi. Thank you. Still no luck for me.