4 Ways to Open An Encrypted ZIP File without Password

Opening a ZIP archive is usually quick and simple—unless it's encrypted. When you've forgotten the password or received a file you're authorized to access but can't unlock, you may start searching for how to open an encrypted ZIP file without password. While encrypted ZIP files are designed to protect data from unauthorized access, there are still reliable ways to recover your contents, regain access to your own files, or work with the sender to retrieve the correct credentials.

Method 1: Use a Password Recovery Tool -- TunesKit File Password Recovery

When you're locked out of a critical ZIP file, finding a solution is paramount. The most reliable approach for regaining access isn't bypassing the lock, but rather recovering the original password. This is where a specialized piece of software becomes essential. TunesKit File Password Recovery is a reliable tool designed specifically for this scenario, offering several methods to find the lost password and help you open your encrypted ZIP file.

Apart from that, it can also open password-protected Excel, PDF, Word, and PowerPoint files. You can regain access to your files when you've forgotten your password. It's designed for beginners and professionals alike, with clear instructions and an intuitive layout that simplifies the recovery process.

Here is how to use TunesKit File Password Recovery to find the password for an encrypted ZIP file.

Step 1Import Your Encrypted ZIP File

First, you need to download and install the TunesKit File Password Recovery software on your computer. Once installed, open the program. Import Your Encrypted ZIP File In the main interface, you will see options for different file types.

Click on the option for RAR/ZIP. Then, click the "Add File" button (or similar) to browse your computer and select the encrypted ZIP file you want to unlock.

Step 2 Select a Password Recovery Mode

This is the most important step. The tool will give you three recovery "attacks" or modes. Your choice depends on what you remember about the password.

1. Dictionary Attack: This is the fastest method. It tries to unlock the file using words from a built-in or custom dictionary file (a list of common passwords, words, and phrases).

Choose this if: You think the password might be a common word, a name, or a simple combination (like "password123" or "admin").

2. Combination Attack (or Mask Attack): This method is for when you remember some details about the password. You can set rules to help the software narrow down its search.

Choose this if: You remember things like the password's length, what characters it started or ended with, or if it contained specific numbers or symbols (e.g., "I know it was 8 characters and started with 'T'").

3. Brute-Force Attack: This is the most powerful and slowest method. It will try every possible combination of letters, numbers, and symbols until it finds the password. This can take hours, days, or even longer depending on the password's complexity.

Choose this if: You have no idea what the password is and the other two methods have failed.

Step 3 Start the Recovery Process

After you have selected your file and chosen a recovery mode (and configured its settings, if necessary), click the "Start Recover" button.

The software will now begin the process of testing passwords. You will see a progress bar and information about the combinations being tried. This may take a very long time, so you will need to be patient.

Step 4 Get Your Password

Once the software successfully finds the password, it will display it in a pop-up window. You can then copy this password and use it to open your encrypted ZIP file just as you normally would.

Method 2: Use Notepad to Remove Password From a ZIP File

It is a good trick to use Notepad to remove a ZIP file's password, but you should note that the success rate with this technique is impressively lower, and it would preferably work with a file with low-end encryption. Meanwhile, using Notepad to remove a ZIP file password will at the risk of damage your ZIP file.

If you decided to try this method, here's the general steps.

Step 1: Right-clicking the encrypted ZIP file and selecting "Open with Notepad."

Step 2: When successfully opened in Notepad, move to the Edit menu and tap the Replace button.

Step 3: Replace Ûtà with 5³tà in the dialog box and save the file.

Step 4: Now open your ZIP file as usual—you should be able to access it without a password.

Method 3: Use Command Prompt to Unlock the Encrypted ZIP File

You can attempt to recover it using a command-line tool called John the Ripper. This is a technical process, but by following these steps carefully, you can retrieve your password.

Step 1: Download John the Ripper from its official website. Once downloaded, extract the contents of the ZIP file to a folder on your computer. This is an open-source tool, so it is safe to install.

Step 2: Navigate to the folder where you extracted John the Ripper. Inside, you will find a folder named run. This is the directory we will work from.

Step 3: Copy your locked/password-protected ZIP file and paste it into the run folder. This simplifies the process. Launch Command Prompt by typing "cmd" in your Windows search bar and opening the application.

Step 4: In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands in order, pressing Enter after each one:

4.1 Navigate to the run folder (replace C:\path\to\john with the actual path to your run folder):

cd C:\path\to\john\run

4.2 Create a hash file from your encrypted Zip. Replace "locked_file.zip" with the actual name of your file:

zip2john.exe locked_file.zip > hash.txt

4.3 Start the password cracking process using the generated hash file:

john.exe hash.txt

Once John the Ripper successfully recovers the password, it will be displayed in the Command Prompt. You can then use this password to unlock your ZIP file.

Method 4: Use an Online Password Recovery Tool

If software-based methods are not an option, you can turn to online tools as an alternative for accessing a password-protected ZIP file. This approach requires no software installation, as the processing is handled on the service's servers.

We will use OnlineHashCrack as an example to illustrate the process:

Step 1: Navigate to the Official OnlineHashCrack website using your browser.

Step 2: On the website's main page, click the "Browse" or "Upload" button to select and upload your password-protected ZIP file from your computer. In the provided field, enter a valid email address. This is where the tool will send your recovered password. Once completed, click the "Submit" or "Start" button to begin the password recovery process.

Step 3: The tool will now process your file on its server using various cracking techniques. Once the password is successfully recovered, the service will send it to the email address you provided. You can then use this password to unlock

FAQs: How to Open An Encrypted ZIP File without Password

Conclusion

While you can't magically "open" an encrypted ZIP file without the password, you can recover the lost password, and a dedicated tool is your best bet. This process can be complex, but TunesKit File Password Recovery stands out as a reliable solution that simplifies the task. By leveraging its powerful and intelligent recovery modes, it gives you the best possible chance to find your lost password and finally regain access to your locked ZIP files.