- 1 year ago
What happens if I change a PNG file to a ZIP file and try to open it in Windows?
If you change a PNG file to a ZIP file by simply renaming its extension from ".png" to ".zip" and then try to open it in Windows, the operating system will treat it as a ZIP archive. Here's what will typically happen:
File association: By default, Windows associates the .zip extension with programs capable of handling ZIP archives, such as file compression utilities like WinRAR, 7-Zip, or the built-in Windows Explorer.
Opening as a ZIP archive: When you double-click the file, Windows will attempt to open it using the associated program. The program will recognize the file as a ZIP archive and display its contents, allowing you to extract or manipulate the files contained within.
Invalid archive: Since a PNG file doesn't follow the structure of a valid ZIP archive, the compressed data within the file will likely be invalid or nonsensical when viewed as a ZIP archive. The archive utility may display an error or fail to extract any valid files.
It's important to note that changing a file's extension doesn't change its actual format or content. Renaming a PNG file to a ZIP file doesn't magically convert the image into a functioning ZIP archive. The file is still a PNG image, but it is treated as a ZIP archive based on the file extension association in Windows.
If you want to work with the contents of a PNG file, you should use appropriate image editing or viewing software designed for handling image files, rather than trying to treat it as a ZIP archive.