6 Solutions to Remove the Checksum Error WinRAR [New Update]

About Checksum Error WinRAR

What is WinRAR checksum error?

Checksum error in WinRAR, a RAR file error, appears when a few bytes get lost from RAR files or additional bits are induced. When this error occurs, it stops you from extracting RAR files.

What causes checksum error WinRAR?

After looking into many cases, we find some common causes for the WinRAR checksum error.

• Improper download: Due to improper Internet connection or low Internet connectivity, the .rar file won’t be downloaded properly. This makes the RAR files corrupt and then prompts the “checksum error” message during the process of RAR extraction.
• Interrupted transfer process: The existence of interruptions such as a sudden system shutdown, Windows restarts, power failure, and others while transferring RAR files from a computer to an external storage device or vice versa may lead to checksum error RAR.
• Insufficient disk space: If there is no more space for the Zip file to be extracted, you will receive the WinRAR checksum error.
• Unreliable third-party compression tools: The checksum error WinRAR could also happen if you extract the contents of WinRAR with unreliable compression programs.
• Virus/malware attacks: If there are virus/malware attacks in the RAR extraction process, the WinRAR checksum error might show up.
• Bad sectors on the storage drive: Bad sectors also trigger the checksum error.

Further reading:

In addition to checksum error WinRAR, you may encounter errors like CRC failed 7Zip and error 42125 Zip archive is corrupted while extracting files. Hence, you have to be cautious during the process of file extractions. For instance, you’d better use a reliable compression tool, utilize a powerful anti-virus program, and get enough free disk space before starting the extraction.

Solutions to WinRAR Checksum Error

Based on the above possible causes, this post would provide you with 6 available solutions to the checksum error WinRAR. You can try them one by one until the error is solved successfully.

Editor’s choice: It is strongly recommended to increase free disk space and check hard drive for bad sectors. By doing so, you can ensure that the checksum error WinRAR won’t occur because of insufficient disk space for the Zip file to be extracted or bad sectors on the storage media.  

Also read: Fix LoadLibrary Failed with Error 87 [Solution 8 Works Well]

Solution 1: Use the Embedded Features in WinRAR

One of the WinRAR checksum error in the encrypted file fixes is to use the built-in features in WinRAR. Both the Keep broken files and Repair archive options of WinRAR can help you fix the WinRAR checksum error.

#1. The Keep Broken Files Option

The Keep broken files option in WinRAR allows you to extract your corrupted media. Once you tick the option, WinRAR will ignore the corruption in the file and help you extract the content from the zip folder.

Step 1: Right-click on the Zip or RAR compressed files and choose Extract Files from the context menu.

Step 2: Navigate to the Miscellaneous section and check the Keep broken files box.

Step 3: Choose an extraction location and then click OK to execute the changes. After a while, the file will be extracted to the selected location. However, it still shows the “checksum error”. You just need to ignore the error and open the file.

#2. The Repair Archive Option

The Repair archive option in WinRAR can solve the checksum error and fix the corrupt file. Once it is clicked, it will automatically execute the operation. Besides, it doesn’t require Internet connection. Nevertheless, this method can only fix minor RAR file corruption.

Here’s how to use the Repair archive option.

Step 1: Right-click on the corrupted RAR or Zip file and tap the Open with WinRAR option.

Step 2: After the WinRAR opens, click on the Tools tab > Repair archive.

Step 3: Click the Browse button and then choose the destination for the repaired RAR or Zip files.

Step 4: Click OK to begin the process. After the operation ends, click Close to exit the program.

[Fixed] Feature Update to Windows 10 Version 20H2 Not Installing

Solution 2: Download the RAR File Again

As mentioned earlier, interruptions during the file extraction process or incomplete download can also trigger the checksum error WinRAR. Given that fact, it is worth downloading the RAR file again.

To keep the process smooth, it is advised that you download the file to a different location.  Moreover, you’d better ensure that you have a fast and stable Internet connection before downloading.

Solution 3: Reinstall WinRAR

You may encounter the checksum error when there are some bugs, viruses, and glitches with WinRAR itself. If so, consider uninstalling and reinstalling WinRAR manually. To do that, you can follow these steps.

Step 1: Open the Run dialog by pressing Windows and R keys。

Step 2: Type appwiz.cpl and click OK.

Step 3: Scroll down the items in the Programs and Features window to find the WinRAR program. Right-click on the WinRAR app and click Uninstall.

Step 4: After the uninstallation, restart your computer. Then move to its official website to download and install it.

Solution 4: Disable Anti-Virus

Anti-Virus programs sometimes send false-positive warnings about malware-free software. Then they corrupt the files by deleting or adding them to their virus chest, which indicates that those files will be missing and you will receive the file corrupt error message.

To avoid that issue, you need to disable anti-virus programs on your computer. If you don’t have third-party anti-virus tools installed, you should disable Windows Defender with these steps.

Step 1: Open Windows Settings by holding Windows and I keys.

Step 2: In the main menu, click on Update & Security.

Step 3: Tap on Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.

Step 4: Click Windows Defender Antivirus Options and then set the status of Periodic Scanning to Off.

If you have installed Avast on your PC, disable it by following this tutorial: How to Close Avast Antivirus on Your Computer?

Solution 5: Increase Free Disk Space

Without enough disk space for Zip files to be extracted, the checksum error WinRAR may pop up. Hence, one available WinRAR checksum error in the encrypted file fix is to increase free space.

To reach that purpose, you can free up disk space by deleting space-consuming and useless files, extend/resize partitions, or upgrade to a larger hard drive, etc. Among these options, extending/resizing partitions is an ideal method.

You don’t have to pay additional costs or delete your data by using this way. The Extend Partition and Move/Resize Partition features of MiniTool Partition Wizard enable you to do that within a few clicks.

As an all-in-one partition manager, MiniTool Partition Wizard also has other features like Convert MBR to GPT, Migrate OS to SSD/HD Wizard, Partition Recovery, Wipe Disk, Rebuild MBR, etc.

Option 1: Extend Partition

Extending partition is recommended if you are under the 2 situations below.

• Extend a partition to non-contiguous unallocated or free space.
• There is no unallocated or free space on the disk.

Step 1: Download MiniTool Partition Wizard by tapping the button below and then install it by following the on-screen instruction.

MiniTool Partition Wizard FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 2: Run the program to enter its main interface.

Step 3: Highlight the partition to enlarge in the disk map and click Extend in the context menu. Alternatively, you can also click on the target partition and then click the Extend Partition option in the action panel.

Step 4: Select a partition or unallocated space from the drop-down menu of Take Free Space from to get free space. Then move the blue block leftwards or rightwards to determine the amount of space that you want to take. Then click OK and Apply to execute the operation.

Option 2: Move/Resize Partition

The Move/Resize Partition feature allows you to shrink, extend, and move partitions easily.

Step 1: Likewise, get MiniTool Partition Wizard installed on your PC.

MiniTool Partition Wizard FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 2: Double-click on this program to run it. After going to its main interface, click on the partition where RAR files are stored and click Move/Resize Partition.

Step 3: In the prompted Move/Resize Partition window, move the arrows in both ends of the partition to modify the location and size of the partition. After that, click OK to save the changes and then click Apply to carry out the operation.

Solution 6: Check Hard Drive for Bad Sectors

If there are bad sectors on the hard drive where RAR files are stored, the checksum error WinRAR can appear as well. It is very easy to check if a hard drive contains bad sectors with the help of the Surface Test feature in MiniTool Partition Wizard.

Download and install MiniTool Partition Wizard by clicking the button below. Then follow the given steps to check hard drive for bad sectors.

MiniTool Partition Wizard FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 1: Launch MiniTool Partition Wizard to access its main interface.

Step 2: Highlight the hard drive or partition that holds the RAR files and click Surface Test in the left panel.

Step 3: In the Surface Test window, click on the Start Now button to begin the scanning process.

Step 4: Then MiniTool Partition Wizard will automatically scan the selected area for bad sectors. The results appear gradually as the process proceeds. After the process ends, you will get all the results.

If you receive the checksum error WinRAR while extracting files, try this WinRAR checksum error in the encrypted file fix tutorial now! It provides you with all the detailed information. Click to Tweet

Bottom Line

This post mainly introduces the meaning, causes, and troubleshooting methods of the checksum error WinRAR. Simply put, it is a complete WinRAR checksum error in the encrypted file fix guide.

Do you have other solutions to the WinRAR checksum error? If you have, share with us in the following comment area. If you encounter any difficulties in using MiniTool Partition Wizard, contact us via [email protected].