What to do When ZIM Files Won’t Open

Why won’t your ZIM file open? You’ve tried double-clicking it, but it doesn’t come up, or you see an error message. So what do you do? This is a common issue with various file extensions because many extensions can be opened by multiple programs, and many programs can open a variety of extensions. It sounds confusing, but it's a lot easier to understand than you might think!

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Which program should you use?

Your computer may be trying to use the wrong program to open the ZIM file, or it may not have a program installed that can open the file. There are a few different programs you can use to open ZIM files, including PagePath Technologies Compressed Mac File, and Kiwix Kiwix. Try downloading one or more of these from the manufacturer’s website.

What type of file is it?

The file type is the key to opening ZIM files. ZIM files are usually considered Data Files. You may already have a program on your computer that can open this type of file.

If the file type is unknown, you can find it in the file properties by following the steps below.

Computer Files
Windows:
  1. Right-click the file and click “Properties”.
  2. Look under “Type of File” for the file type.
Mac:
  1. Right-click the file and click “Properties".
  2. Look under “Kind” for the file type.

Who developed the software?

If you can’t find the right program to open your ZIM file, a software developer might be able to help you. Contact the developer of one of the most common programs for ZIM files from the list below.

Software Developer
PagePath Technologies Compressed Mac File is developed by PC Software Company
Kiwix Kiwix is developed by OpenZIM

Why not try a universal file viewer?

A universal file viewer is a program that can open files with a wide range of extensions, depending on the file format. When you have ZIM files you can’t open, a universal file viewer like File Magic (Download) can open it for you. Just remember that some files aren’t compatible with this type of program, and they will only open in binary format.


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1File types that are unsupported can be opened in binary format.

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