re-zipped docx files don't open in Word?

Question

I've had success unzipping and examining the interior of a .docx file, but I can't seem to get the re-zipping to work properly. I've tried no compression (command line: zip -0r ...), the archive utility, and a 7zip plugin but none of that works. All of the .docx files I create won't open in the original programs, even when I don't change a single file. Any tips?

Answer 1

Background: What is a .docx File?

A .docx file is essentially a ZIP archive with a specific folder structure and required components, defined by the Open Packaging Conventions. If anything is out of order (like incorrect compression, missing [Content_Types].xml, or extra folder metadata), Word won’t open it.

✅ Correct Way to Re-Zip a .docx File (Cross-Platform)

📁 Folder Structure Must Be Rooted Properly

Your .docx ZIP must have this structure:

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[Content_Types].xml

_rels/

docProps/

word/

Make sure when zipping, you're inside the folder that contains these items, not zipping the folder itself.

💻 On macOS or Linux (with zip command)

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cd /path/to/unzipped/docx_contents

zip -r ../fixed.docx * -x ".*"

✅ This zips all contents (not the parent folder) and skips hidden macOS __MACOSX/ or . files.

🔒 Also important:

1. Do not include the folder itself — zip the contents directly.
2. Use standard compression or -0 for no compression.
3. If using Finder or Archive Utility, it often adds a parent folder or metadata that breaks compatibility.

🪟 On Windows (with 7-Zip)

1. Go inside the unzipped .docx folder.
2. Select all the contents (Ctrl+A), not the parent folder.
3. Right-click > 7-Zip > “Add to archive...”
4. Choose:
5. Archive format: zip
6. Compression level: Store (or Normal)
7. File extension: .docx
8. Click OK.

✅ This preserves the proper structure.

❌ What to Avoid

1. Zipping the parent folder (Word expects certain files to be at the root).
2. Including macOS .DS_Store or __MACOSX/ folders.
3. Using third-party tools that re-order the contents (e.g., GUI zippers with drag-drop folder compression).
4. Changing file permissions/attributes (rare, but can happen with certain systems).

✅ Pro Tip: Validate the ZIP Structure

Use a tool like unzip -l fixed.docx and make sure your output looks like:

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Length Name

--------- -------------------

0000001234 [Content_Types].xml

0000000567 _rels/.rels

0000002345 word/document.xml

...

If the first line shows a folder like mydocx/word/document.xml — it’s broken.