Zip archive with PowerShell "Error: The zip file may not be valid or may be an unsupported version."

[LeoGriffM]

Zip archive "Error: The zip file may not be valid or may be an unsupported version."

We are trying to upload a ZIP archive to a Databricks workspace for faster and atomic uploads of artifacts. The expected behaviour is that we can run the following command to upload a zip file that is automatically unpacked into a Workspace directory. `databricks workspace import /Workspace/Shared/development/dbt/data_platform.zip --file C:\Users\...\data_platform\transformations\data_platform.zip --profile development --format AUTO` However, we get the error message "Error: The zip file may not be valid or may be an unsupported version." when compressing the archive via PowerShell. We have tried the `Compress-Archive` cmdlet and `[System.IO.Compression.ZipFile]::CreateFromDirectory()`. This error does not occur when we use Windows UI (right-click compress) or 7Zip.

I have reviewed documentation and blog posts but can't find any useful information. I've also raised a support ticket with Databricks.

Please share if you have insights, a fix or workaround for this! Thanks in advance.

[LeoGriffM]

May relate to feature request https://github.com/databricks/cli/issues/1221

[mark_ott]

The error message "Error: The zip file may not be valid or may be an unsupported version" when importing a zip archive via the Databricks CLI is a known issue, especially with zip files created using PowerShell's Compress-Archive or [System.IO.Compression.ZipFile]::CreateFromDirectory() methods. This problem does not occur when using third-party tools like 7-Zip or the native Windows file explorer right-click compress feature.​

Why PowerShell Zips Fail

• PowerShell's zip implementation often produces archives with metadata or file structure nuances that are technically valid but can be incompatible with some applications, including Databricks CLI's import logic.​

• Databricks CLI appears to have stricter requirements about the zip file format (particularly central directory structure and possibly compression methods), which PowerShell's tools might not meet.​

• There is ongoing discussion and feature requests about supporting zips from PowerShell, but as of the latest updates, these issues persist.​

Workarounds & Recommendations

• Use the Windows File Explorer (“Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder”) or 7-Zip to create zip files for Databricks workspace imports.​

• Avoid PowerShell and .NET zip creation utilities for these uploads, as their outputs may trigger compatibility errors.

• If you require automation in your workflow, consider scripting with third-party CLI tools like 7-Zip via command line (7z a myzip.zip .) for zip creation.

Additional Notes

• Databricks workspace import via CLI currently does not support all zip archive formats. Only zips with certain directory structures and compression methods may be accepted.​

• You might also want to look for updates to the Databricks CLI or open feature requests on the official GitHub page as work is underway to improve compatibility.​

Summary Table

Zip Tool	Compatible with Databricks Import	Notes
PowerShell	No	Causes “unsupported version” error​
[System.IO.Compression]	No	Same as above​
Windows Explorer	Yes	“Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder”
7-Zip	Yes	CLI or GUI

To resolve your issue, always use Windows Explorer or 7-Zip for creating zip archives destined for Databricks workspace imports.​