"Could not unzip extension" error in all four browsers

This could be a simple fix, which is eluding me or a nightmare to fix.

Let me explain... I use Ant Download Manager, and it stopped working. extension reported an error, so I chose repair, and it disappeared. So tried to reinstall it using the Ant Download Manager interface, but nothing happened. So reached out to the developer, who suggested the following below.
#1. Try to reinstall the software. First, you need to completely remove the software for x32 C:\Program Files (x86)\Ant Download Manager\unins000.exe or for x64 C:\Program Files\Ant Download Manager\unins000.exe. This will clear all the wrong software settings.

My reply #1 When I tried to remove using the uins000.exe, I was given the following error message...Unable to execute the file in the temporary directory. Setup aborted.
Error 193: %1 is not a valid Win32 application.
So I used IO Bit Uninstaller, which also removed the registry files, then reinstalled the giveaway version

#2. Try to install our extension manually (URL removed)
My reply #2 Used link and got the same results: "Could not unzip extension"

#3. For Chrome, try to repair browser integration for ADM Main menu Tab General\Browser Integration - Reinstall Chrome integration
My reply # 3 Clicking on integration does nothing. I have tried with browsers open and closed.
Believing, this was an isolated issue I tried to load ADM into Brave, Firefox and Microsoft Edge, all with the same error "Could not unzip extension" OK so ADM is possibly corrupt, tried several different versions and all with the same results.

Next step was to try and manually install the extension, that did not work as the ADM extension was looking for the ADM program. Now I then get a error on the Grammarly extension, again repair removed the extension, and when I tried to reinstall. I get the "Could not unzip extension" Tried on Fire Fox and Microsoft Edge and same outcome, I have since tried many different and varied extension on all four browsers Chrome, Brave, Fire Fox and Microsoft Edge,,, With same results. So not I thinking this is possibly a compression/decompression issue (zip program) I use 7-Zip and I looked up that it had not been updated for Windows 11, so I did some research and found the one everyone was raving about was NanaZip so installed it and set it to default, but nothing changed.

I know this may seem longwinded but I wanted to explain everything... But in short I am unable to load any extension on to any of my four installed browsers as I get an error message "Could not unzip extension"

I have tried on a another machine and all works as it should.

Looking forward to your suggestion and hopefully a fix.

I would remove whatever zip programs you have installed: 7-Zip, NanaZip, whatever. ( Unless you're dealing with non ZIP extension files, odds are high you don't need them anyway). Remove Ant Download Manager if you can.

Reboot.

Find a zip file someone on your system using File Explorer and see if you can look into the folder. If it works, restart your browsers and see how you are doing. Don't reinstall any optional software until you get the standard programs functioning properly.

Are you trying to install the extension that you have downloaded locally?
Have you tried adding the extensions from the actual extension pages?
Like:

Google, Firefox etc are always raising the bar for how an extension is coded. Firefox recently made even more changes and now at lease 4 of my beloved extensions are no longer compatible with Firefox because the creator hasn’t updated or recreated them. Who knows.

Levitate11 said:

I would remove whatever zip programs you have installed: 7-Zip, NanaZip, whatever. ( Unless you're dealing with non ZIP extension files, odds are high you don't need them anyway). Remove Ant Download Manager if you can.

Reboot.

Find a zip file someone on your system using File Explorer and see if you can look into the folder. If it works, restart your browsers and see how you are doing. Don't reinstall any optional software until you get the standard programs functioning properly.

Click to expand...

Thanks, Levitate 11, for the prompt reply... I followed your suggestions and removed 7-Zip and NanaZip, and removed ADM and rebooted same outcome. I'm not sure what you mean by the following "Find a zip file someone on your system using File Explorer and see if you can look into the folder."

antspants said:

Are you trying to install the extension that you have downloaded locally?
Have you tried adding the extensions from the actual extension pages?
Like:

Ant Download Manager – Get this Extension for 🦊 Firefox (en-US)

Download Ant Download Manager for Firefox. antFF is Ant Download Manager software integration module for Windows platforms. For everyone who thinks that we are the same as is Ant Video Downloader - we are not Ant Video Downloader, we are another software, we are another group of developers.

addons.mozilla.org

Download with Ant Download Manager - Chrome Web Store

Download files with Ant Download Manager (AntDM)

chromewebstore.google.com

Click to expand...

Thanks, antpants, for your suggestions... Yes, I have tried installing both direct from the developers' link, sent personally to me, installing the software is not the issue, it's getting the extensions to load into the browser, as when I use Chrome Web Store and click Add to Chrome, I get the Add "Download with Ant Download Manager" pop windows then the click Add Extension then the error message "Could not unzip extension"

antspants said:

Google, Firefox etc are always raising the bar for how an extension is coded. Firefox recently made even more changes and now at lease 4 of my beloved extensions are no longer compatible with Firefox because the creator hasn’t updated or recreated them. Who knows.

Click to expand...

Antpants, you could be right about older extensions not being accepted, but as ADM is constantly being updated and the likes of Grammarly, I would assume that is being updated, and as I mentioned, I tried several other extensions, all with the same outcome... I believe this is a local issue, i.e. my system, as I have tried both ADM and Grammarly on a separate system and they worked as they should

Trebo58 said:

Thanks, antpants, for your suggestions... Yes, I have tried installing both direct from the developers' link, sent personally to me, installing the software is not the issue, it's getting the extensions to load into the browser, as when I use Chrome Web Store and click Add to Chrome, I get the Add "Download with Ant Download Manager" pop windows then the click Add Extension then the error message "Could not unzip extension"

Click to expand...

Very odd.

Trebo58 said:

Antpants, you could be right about older extensions not being accepted, but as ADM is constantly being updated and the likes of Grammarly, I would assume that is being updated, and as I mentioned, I tried several other extensions, all with the same outcome... I believe this is a local issue, i.e. my system, as I have tried both ADM and Grammarly on a separate system and they worked as they should

Click to expand...

I’d say it was local also but with every browser?

sounds like security is stopping it? have you tried disabling AV for testng purposes?

BobOmb said:

sound like security is stopping it? have you tried disabling AV for testng purposes?

Click to expand...

That was my next question, good call.

When I right-click a .zip file in File Explorer one choice is Extract all, when I choose that I get this [a file in my Mapped Downloads folder on my NAS drive]:

Uninstall a browser. Pick one... Chrome... whatever. Reboot. Reinstall that browser. Do not install any extensions. See if it works to download some other extension you haven't used before. I don't even care if you want that extension. Just see if it will install when working through the browser to install it.

BobOmb said:

sounds like security is stopping it? have you tried disabling AV for testng purposes?

Click to expand...

Thanks, BobOmb, for joining the party... I have already tried disabling the AV, my AV is Windows Security, and I have disabled Real-time protection, but the same outcome... Not sure if just switching off Real-time protection classes as disabling AV

Trebo58 said:

Thanks, Levitate 11, for the prompt reply... I followed your suggestions and removed 7-Zip and NanaZip, and removed ADM and rebooted same outcome. I'm not sure what you mean by the following "Find a zip file someone on your system using File Explorer and see if you can look into the folder."

Click to expand...

What I'm suggesting is starting up File Explorer. Browse to some directory where you know there is a zip file/archive. Double click on it. Windows should "open" the archive and let you see the files in it. It's like double-clicking into a sub folder. See if that works.

For Firefox, I believe the actual extension needed to import should be called antff.xpi
I believe browsers see the extension as an archive.

Have you tried moving the extension to a new location? What happens if you put the extension onto a USB and try to import it into the browsers?

Levitate11 said:

Uninstall a browser. Pick one... Chrome... whatever. Reboot. Reinstall that browser. Do not install any extensions. See if it works to download some other extension you haven't used before. I don't even care if you want that extension. Just see if it will install when working through the browser to install it.

Click to expand...

Ok update... Did as you suggested and removed Firefox. Total uninstall and rebooted, reinstalled Firefox and installed the search by image extension, with no problem, then installed Grammarly and ADM. Counting chickens, uninstalled Chrome, rebooted and reinstalled Chrome, first extension to load was Tabcloud, error message was "Could not unzip extension", so back to square one

antspants said:

Have you tried moving the extension to a new location? What happens if you put the extension onto a USB and try to import it into the browsers?

Click to expand...

antpants, do you mean as an extension or as an unpacked file... loading unpacked files was not the issue, however, how do I get an extension onto a pen drive, then how do I get the browser to locate and install it?

Hi
As an extension
I’m not sure about all browsers but in Firefox