Extract text from ZI_ files
To convert your ZI_ file to another format, you need WinZip or other Compressed software.
To convert other file formats to the "Renamed Archive" file type, you need software like WinZip or a similar tool.
A .ZI_ file is technically a standard ZIP archive where the file extension has been intentionally modified, usually by replacing the final letter with an underscore. This naming convention is frequently used by older installation software (like InstallShield) or email servers to bypass security filters that block executable or archive attachments.
A major limitation for users is that operating systems like Windows and macOS do not recognize the .ZI_ extension, meaning double-clicking the file results in an "Open With" error. While the underlying data is a valid compressed archive, users must manually rename the file to ZIP to access it - a process that can be confusing or risky if file extensions are hidden by the system. Additionally, because these files are designed to evade filters, they can sometimes contain executable payloads or malware.
To safely access the contents without manual renaming, the best approach is to convert the file to a standard ZIP, 7Z, or RAR archive. For archiving purposes, converting to 7Z often yields better compression ratios.
Convert.Guru analyzes your ZI_ file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted ZI, ZL, ZIP, LPT, PDF, NPZ, WSDL, SLDPRT, ENC, LAB, PRT, CFA and ASPX files.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our ZI_ converter.