I can't open or extract files from a folder I've downloaded

Issue

When trying to open the zip file of a folder that you've downloaded, Windows displays an error that it can't open the folder.

Operating system error message indicating a file can't be opened.

Resolution

The cause of this issue is the length of the opened folder's path name being larger than what Windows supports. Some workarounds include:

  • If you only need the contents of a specific sub-folder, only download that folder from your digital workplace. If you need multiple sub-folders, download each separately.
  • Try opening the downloaded zip file at a location closer to the root of the current drive.

To minimize the likelihood of this occurring, try to use concise names for your folders and files.