7-zip fix to “Incorrect command line”

Been getting that irritating error (which shouldn’t exist in the first place if you ask me)? Here’s the quick fix:

Right click on the file you want. (No, we’re not going through the old way of 7-zip > Open archive technique.)

Choose ‘Open with…’

Select ‘Choose default program…’

Look for 7-Zip File Manager. If it’s not in the lists of recommended programs, search for it (click ‘Browse…’. Typically it’s under your C:\Program Files\7-Zip folder. Choose the 7zFM.exe program as default program.

Notice that 7-zip GUI is different from 7-zip File Manager. (Aha!)

Click ‘OK’ and try double-clicking your compressed files.

You’re welcome. 🙂

28 thoughts on “7-zip fix to “Incorrect command line””

Chris says: May 1, 2012 at 4:56 pm

I must have tried that 10 times but the time I try it after reading this, it works. Of course.
Thanks.

ken.broderick37 says: June 4, 2012 at 10:23 pm

Repair corrupted zip file owing to http://www.zip.fixtoolbox.com program supports restoring zip archives of more than 2GB.

Andreas says: June 24, 2012 at 3:22 pm

Thank you for the fix. Also thanks for the Aha!, reminded me of Alan Partridge, which is always a good thing. 🙂

Steve Conrad says: February 18, 2013 at 5:21 pm

Thanks for such an effective solution.
I’m with you on the “never should have existed in the first place” bit.

AP says: March 23, 2013 at 7:08 pm

Thanks!! 😀

Peter Proude says: March 25, 2013 at 1:22 pm

Wow worked for me it was driving me loco…

John L says: April 2, 2013 at 9:14 pm

Thanks for the clear explanation. Why the 7-Zip GUI doesn’t open files directly is beyond me. This problem must happen for every person who Installs 7-Zip for the first time.

Jack Jenkins (@Jackthewelshman) says: April 15, 2013 at 2:37 am

Cheers dude. I must have originally selected the wrong default application within 7-Zip, to open archives. Thank you for helping me straighten out Windows 8, I swear I’m going Mac next

hiho says: June 15, 2013 at 7:29 am

thanks

abi says: June 16, 2013 at 2:04 am

thanks fr the quick fix , i was assuming the file was corrpt and i downladed a 3GB file 8 times

Wolf says: June 18, 2013 at 12:39 am

didn’t work, instead says cannot open as archive.

bursky says: June 19, 2013 at 1:47 am

Perhaps the file isn’t an archive to begin with?

Reply
- Gipelle says: September 6, 2013 at 8:12 pm
  
  Same with me ! If you try to open a .paf file it shows ‘invalid command line’. The solution described does not apply to this one…

Lyj says: September 26, 2013 at 12:03 pm

Thanks for the fix. Been driving me nuts too!

theairerazorvirus says: April 30, 2014 at 2:44 pm

didn’t work for me. When i right click the only options i get are, preview, open, quick print etc… not open with

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theeon91 says: July 24, 2015 at 4:53 am

still shows as currupted for me. sure it shows the open with but always says “incorrect command” bullcrap

DAT says: December 6, 2015 at 2:32 pm

Thanks so much !

Gar Lowe says: January 3, 2016 at 8:21 pm

Works for me! One thing, 7-Zip was already set as the default for me, but still not working. I browsed to 7zFM.exe and selected that and it worked. Thanks!

A. Mous says: June 25, 2016 at 9:59 am

Beauty! Fixed this irritant.

Quince Jackson says: August 17, 2016 at 9:08 pm

It works! Thanks for the tip.

SouthsideBluz says: April 8, 2017 at 5:15 am

Just wanted to stop and say thanks! It worked! It was bugging the heck out of me too!

Jeff Humphreys says: June 6, 2017 at 8:27 pm

Didn’t work for me. May be because I have 64-bit win 10? I used ShellExView from NirSoft. I found it was pointing to 7zip.dll. I right-clicked and clicked “Open CLSID in regedit” and edit the default entry to point to 7-zFM.exe. This fixed it.

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Leslie Peterson says: June 9, 2018 at 1:29 am

Freaking THANK YOU. This is exactly what we need when searching for fixes to rando errors, I am so grateful I did not have to wade through a bunch of dumb forum posts. Worked for me!