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

LeoGriffM
New Contributor II

‎06-10-2025 07:51 AM

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.

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LeoGriffM
New Contributor II

‎06-10-2025 07:54 AM

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

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mark_ott
Databricks Employee
Databricks Employee

‎10-29-2025 01:14 PM

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.​