How to Open Password Protected Zip File? 6 Easy Ways [2024] (2024)

If you also forgot the password of your zip file and wonder how to open password protected zip file, this article is for you. In this article, we have talked about some of the significant issues that people are facing nowadays to open password protected zip file. Here we have talked about some of the critical topics that are listed below:

Part 1: How to Open Encrypted Zip Files (with Password)?

Solution 1. If you are trying to extract password protected zip file in WinRAR, it will ask you to enter the correct password. In the first step, you need to select the Zip file you want to unzip and click "Extract to", then in the "Extraction path and option" window, confirm the destination path and click "OK", next you will be asked to enter a password. It will open only when you enter the Correct Password and then you can successfully extract password protected zip.

Solution 2. If you are trying to open password protected zip in a WinZip, and once you click the "Open" button, you will be asked to enter the password of that Zip file if the file is password protected. Until and unless you won't enter the right password, you cannot open/decrypt or extract the Zip file in WinZip.

Solution 3. If you are trying to extract password protected zip into the 7-Zip, you just need to enter the password once the 7-Zip Extract window appears on the screen. Once you have entered your password, click on the OK button or open a zipped file to open or extract password protected zip file.

Part 2: How to Open Password Protected Zip File Without Password? (3 Solutions）

Please read through the 3 efficient and effective solutions mentioned in this part to unzip password protected zip without entering any password or code. Let’s look at how these methods can assist you in making your files completely accessible.

Solution 1. Use Notepad to Open Your Password-Protected ZIP File

Notepad is an amazing built-in tool commonly used for note-taking or record-keeping purposes. You can find it in all operating systems, like Linux, Mac, and Windows. If you use a Linux operating system, you might have to install Notepad on your device.

You will be amazed to know that the same tool can help you open encrypted ZIP file when you don’t remember the password. Sounds good? Let’s get into more specifics.

The use of Notepad is, in fact, one of the easiest methods of opening compressed files secured by codes or passwords. The steps you need to follow are given below.

Step 1. If your device (Mac or Linux) does not have a pre-installed Notepad, install it on your system.

Step 2. Now, right-click on the file you want to access. Place your cursor on the “Open with” option and choose “Notepad”. If you can’t find it, click on “Choose another app” and then choose the “Notepad” option, as shown below.

Step 3. As soon as the Notepad is opened, go to “Edit” from the top menu bar, and click on “Replace”.

Step 4. Find “Ûtà” and replace it with “5³tà'.” Then, hit the “Replace All” button.

Step 5. It is time to close the Notepad application. Once done, open your password-protected ZIP file. Now, you will be able to access the file without entering any passcode or password.

If this method does not work for you, we have two more ways to get out of this trouble. Read more.

Solution 2. Open an Encrypted ZIP File with CMD

Using the command prompt is another method you can try to make your password-protected ZIP files accessible without entering any passcode. When trying this method, you have to use a pre-coded tool, John the Ripper. This open-source software is available for different operating systems, like Linux, Windows, and Mac OS. Let’s see how this tool helps you get over the line.

Step 1. Download and install John the Ripper from this link. It will be in the ZIP format. Extract it to your desired location and install it so that you can use it in CMD.

Step 2. You can change the folder name you have downloaded. Place the folder on the Desktop.

Step 3. Now, open the folder you just placed on the Desktop and double-click on the “Run” folder. Inside the Run folder, create another folder and name it “Crack”.

Step 4. It is time to copy and paste the encrypted ZIP file you want to access into the Crack folder.

Step 5. Go to the search bar of your Windows or any other operating system, type cmd, and open the Command Prompt, as shown below.

Step 6. Type the “cd/Desktop/john/run” command on the cmd interface and press the “Enter” key from your computer. This command calls Windows to find the Run folder.

Step 7. Now, write the “Zip2john.exe/crack/ZipFileName.zip>crack/keys.txt” command on the interface and execute it. It will create hashes. These hashes help you crack the lost password when they are matched with it. You will find password hashes in the “keys.txt” file.

Step 8. Execute the “john -format=zip crack/keys.txt” command. Within a few minutes, you may see your password appear on the screen. Otherwise, you may have to wait for multiple hours, depending on how complicated or difficult your password is. Below, you can see that the cracked password is “ABC123”.

Didn’t this method help you access your password-protected ZIP file? Worry not! Below is one more way to crack your ZIP file password.

Solution 3. Use an Online ZIP File Password Unlocker

There are a couple of online tools in the market to unlock your encrypted ZIP files when you don’t know the password. In this section, we will present a credible online utility to get this job done within minutes.

LostMyPass is a wonderful tool for unlocking ZIP, PDF, and a variety of other files. Let’s look at the steps required to unlock ZIP file without password.

Step 1. Go to the LostMyPass official website.

Step 2. Place your cursor on the “File Types” option and select any archive file. You will find 7z, RAR, and WinZip in the list.

Step 3. You may or may not have to pass the robot test before using this tool. Once done, you can upload your encrypted ZIP files. You can simply drag and drop your files into the tool. Alternatively, you can hit the “or click here” button to upload your password-protected ZIP files.

Step 4. LostMyPass will automatically start working to crack your lost password and make files accessible. If your password is weak, you may get it within a few minutes. On the other hand, strong passwords may take up to 24 hours to recover.

According to the official site of LostMyPass, the recovery percentage for weak, strong, brute force with a masked password is 22%, 61%, and 100%, respectively (as of writing this article).

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Part 3: How to Repair the Corrupted ZIP File?

When it comes to the best file repair tool to repair ZIP files, then Wondershare Repairit - File Repair comes across as the most trusted and efficient of solutions. You can use this tool to repair and recover your ZIP files, repair the corrupt MS PowerPoint files, MS Word documents, and even your MS Excel Workbooks. Think of this as your one-stop corrupt-file repair shop. With all those versatile features- you also have a 7-day money-back guarantee. In case the tool does not deliver the desired results, then you can easily get back all your money!

Bonus: How Zip Files Work?

Almost everybody knows how the Folder in Windows works, what you need to do is, just drop all your files into the single Folder. Now you can transport the Folder along with all your contents in it anywhere on your computer, or you may also copy that Folder to some other hard drive.

Well, if we talk about the zip files, they also work similarly, but you may have noticed that when you drop your files in a "folder" (Zip File), the size of the zip file is compressed to reduce the storage used.

Advantages of Zipping over Folder

Think of a folder that have 20 files in it, and you want to Email that Folder to someone, is that possible? Actually no!! It is not possible to send the Folder containing 20 files. You have to carry all those 20 files individually. That's where Zip Files beats the Folder if you zip up the 20 files in a single Zip archive the size of that Zip will be compressed and you can even transmit it across the internet easily via Email as well. Also, you can encrypt your Zip file that is one most essential benefits of zip files over regular Folders.

The Bottom Line

In this article we have talked about lots of crucial questions that people are facing nowadays, we have talked about how to unzip the password protected zip files, how to open a password protected zip file, and how to zip file works. If you forgot the password of your zip file, don't worry, in this article we have given you the step-by-step tutorial through which you will know how you can open the password protected zip file.