Solved Windows 11: Can't use context menu "Compress to ZIP file"

Hi, Im new here, So I have a month old windows 11 Laptop.
I am unable to use the right click, compress to ZIP files, when I use this it opens ' select an app to open' box
I was ok with this at first, but its annoying me now !
Any help would be appreciated, please keep it simple. Thankyou

Hello @Lou2023 and welcome to ElevenForum.


In the Taskbar Search box, type: Defaults ...and hit Enter.

Scroll down to the bottom and select: "Choose defaults by file type"
Then scroll down through that list and find the different zip-type file extensions, and make sure they are set to...
Windows Explorer.
If you use a 3rd party ZIP program, (like 7zip or WinRAR), then set the zip-type file extensions to that instead.





These may help as well...

Thankyou for reply but When I type in search , it comes up with defaults app, then cannot see ' choose default by file type'
I am clearly not understanding you

Oh sorry, I found that, yes its set to windows explorer.

Lou2023 said:

Oh sorry, I found that, yes its set to windows explorer.

Click to expand...

Does the right click, compress to zip ...work now?

Or are you saying it was already set to Windows Explorer?



If you want to light up someone's Notification bell (top right), you need to quote them (bottom right), or add an @ symbol in front of their account name.

@Lou2023


Here's your options...

Open a command prompt as Admin and type... sfc /scannow ...and then hit EnterThis will run Window's System File Checker which will fix a lot of Windows problems.

If SFC finds things it can't fix, then run Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth




If the right click compress to zip still doesn't work, then you can do an In-Place Upgrade, or switch to a 3rd party ZIP program, like 7zip.





If it was me... I'd just switch to 7zip.

oh Sorry, its just the same, it was on explorer already

Lou2023 said:

oh Sorry, its just the same, it was on explorer already

Click to expand...

Well post #6 lists your options. Like I said... if it was me, I'd just install 7zip.
7zip opens everything, and just plain works.

Thankyou for your help but Still not working, not sure I want to try the in-place upgrade, it looks scary !

Lou2023 said:

Thankyou for your help but Still not working, not sure I want to try the in-place upgrade, it looks scary !

Click to expand...

It's a little bit scary, but it's actually pretty easy. But try the other things first.

An In-Place Upgrade "compares" what is installed on the computer, with the Windows ISO image.
Then, it overwrites any corrupted Windows files, with clean copies from the ISO image.
This is how it "repairs" Windows while allowing you to keep your programs and personal files.

Here is the short version of the In-place upgrade tutorial...

DISABLE non-Microsoft:
a) antivirus software
b) firewall software
c) drive encryption software


Make a full OS backup with a program like Macrium Reflect or AOMEI Backupper Standard
Making a backup is optional, but always a smart move.
Macrium Reflect
AOMEI Backupper Standard (free)


Get the Windows 11 ISO and save it to your desktop...


Right click the ISO image and choose: MOUNT
Open File Explorer and you will see a new drive letter. It will "look" like a DVD optical drive.
Double click the new drive letter to open it.
Find setup.exe and double click it to start the in-place upgrade.

Choose the Keep personal files and apps option.

After it's all done... to UNmount the ISO image, right click the new drive letter and choose: EJECT.

The ONLY thing you will lose is some of your personalizations.
Your drivers, programs and data will be intact.

I have just installed 7zip as you suggested and changed the default to it, but I still get the annoying box how do I wish to open it !!!

Try option 2 "Reset and Restore Specific File Type Associations to Default" here;

Lou2023 said:

I have just installed 7zip as you suggested and changed the default to it, but I still get the annoying box how do I wish to open it !!!

Click to expand...

When you answer the box... does it give you two choices? Always and Just Once?
If so... choose... Always.


You need to start posting some screen shots.

To post a screenshot on this forum...​

1. Take the screenshot, edit it as desired, save to your desktop as .png or .jpg (max. size = 2MB)
2. Left click in your post, where you want to place the screenshot.
3. Click the Attach Files button at lower left, browse to your pic and click Insert.
4. After clicking Insert, I usually choose the Thumbnail option.

I only get the options ' once'

Ive tried to screenshot, but when i press snipping tools, the box disappears which says ' just once'

This does not work either. Ive copied the problem from the first thread for exactly the problem, I think were going off course slightly

Hi, Im new here, So I have a month old windows 11 Laptop.
I am unable to use the right click, compress to ZIP files, when I use this it opens ' select an app to open' box
I was ok with this at first, but its annoying me now !
Any help would be appreciated, please keep it simple. Thankyou

Lou2023 said:

I only get the options ' once'

Click to expand...

You can also open the 7-zip File Manager on your Start Menu, and go to... Tools > Options
...and set the file associations in there.
Set everything to open with 7-zip, except ISO and CAB files.

@Lou2023
Just to be clear...
are you trying to compress files or extract files..., or both?

compress more but sometimes extract