Share this article

Improve this guide

6 Fixes: The File or Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable

CHKDSK is your ally in the fight against data corruption

10 min. read

Updated onSeptember 26, 2024

updated onSeptember 26, 2024

Share this article

Improve this guide

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Key notes

We store all sorts of files and folders on our PCs, but sometimes specific files and directories can becomecorruptedand unreadable.

Indeed you’ve encountered the problem of corrupted and unreadable files or directories at some point, and nothing is more frustrating than not being able to access them, especially if you’re in serious need.

But there are some valuable tips to remember when you run into this unpleasant situation, so don’t lose hope.

This can be a big problem for users, but there’s a way to fix acorruptedand unreadable file or directory on Windows 10. Before we dig in, let’s see some specific situations and examples where you might encounter this issue.

What does it mean when it says the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable?

The error message File or directory is corrupted, and unreadable is a type of error might be considered essential. This occurs when malicious software causes damaged files, affecting your file system.

All programs may have a damaged file that can no longer fulfill its function. Thus, this type of file is called corrupt.

This problem can occur for a number of reasons, including recurring ones:

Corrupted directories can be a problem since they won’t allow you to access your files. Speaking ofcorrupteddirectories, users reported the following issues:

How can I fix the corrupted folder on Windows 10?

1. Use the chkdsk tool

According to users, one way to fix problems with corrupted directories is to use the chkdsk tool. Chkdsk is a command line tool that repairs any folder, scans the specifichard drivepartition, and fixes corrupted files or folders.

After the scan completes, the issue should be resolved entirely.

We must mention that a few users reported that the chkdsk command deleted files from their partition without warning, so be sure to back up any important files just in case.

2. Keep reconnecting your external storage device

Using an external storage device is a great way to free some space on your hard drive and keep your important files backed up.

Unfortunately, users reported that this issue occurs on their external storage devices. According to users, one of the simplest ways to fix this problem is to keep reconnecting your external hard drive.

After you reconnect your drive a couple of times,Windows 10will notify you of an issue with the industry and ask you for permission to repair it.

The repair process should take about 30 seconds, and the issue should be resolved after the process is completed.

If you’re still having issues with corrupt directories on your PC, you might want to try using recovery software to restore your files.

We have to mention that these tools can give you varying results, depending on the amount of corruption.

If you’re looking for good file recovery software, we strongly recommend the professional toolStellar Data Recovery, which quickly recovers files from corrupted directories.

3. Format your external storage device

Users reported an error message regarding a corrupted directory while trying to access their external storage device.

One way to fix this problem is to partition and format the drive by following the above steps.

If the drive is partitioned, you must format it from This PC. To do that, follow these steps:

After the drive is formatted, you’ll be able to access your external storage device without any problems. However, remember that formatting will delete all files from your external storage device.

4. Check the health of your hard drive

Corrupted directories can be a sign of a damaged hard drive, and if you want to ensure that your hard drive is healthy and working correctly, you should check its health.

If your hard drive fails, you should consider replacing your hard drive and backing up your files.

Many third-party applications can help you with that, and if you need a tool that can clone your hard drive to a new one, you should consider using a professional one.

5. Try using Safe Mode

If you can’t open a specific directory on your PC because it’s damaged, you might want to tryaccessing this directory in Safe Mode.

In case you’re unfamiliar, Safe Mode is a segment of Windows that runs with default applications and settings, so it’s perfect for troubleshooting.

Once you enter Safe Mode, try reaccessing the problematic directory.

6. Create a new user profile

If you’re having problems withcorrupteddirectories, the issue might be related to your user profile. For example, if your user profile is corrupted, you might not be able to access specific directories.

However, you can always circumvent this issue simply by creating a new user account. After that, switch to a recent version and check if the problem persists.

If you can access all directories without issues, it means that acorruptedaccount was causing the problem.

Since there’s no way to repair acorruptedaccount, you’ll need to move your files to a new account and start using it as your main one.

How can I fix the corrupted and unreadable file or directory on Windows 11?

How do you check if a folder is corrupted?

In Windows-based operating systems, the CHKDSK (check disk) system tool or utility performs a scan of your hard drive to look for problems with the file system.To maintain proper computer hygiene, you should regularly run the CHKDSK tool to check for and fix faults on your hard drive and keep your system data organized. We showed you how to use it in the first solution, so check it out.

How to prevent file or directory corruption

Repairing acorrupteddirectory onWindows 10can be a complicated process, but if you encounter a problem with a corrupted guide, be sure to try one of our solutions above.

But if you want to prevent this issue from occurring in the future so that you don’t have to go through the same process every time, then there are some things to consider:

➡Protect your PC against cyber threats

Malware plays a defining role in file corruption problems, although its primary purpose is to corrupt your entire operating system, not just one file.

Microsoft Defender is a reliable ally against malware and viruses that can attack your PC, but often hacker innovations outpace it.

That’s why the life-saving solution seems to come unexpectedly, and you can choose one ofthe best Windows 10 antivirus software to use today.

Choose an antivirus solution that fits your needs, and use it with utmost confidence to save your work and protect your PC.

➡Check your hard-drive

Regarding resilience over time, HDDs are more vulnerable and require extra attention from users who want to maintain their PCs at optimal standards.

Bad sectors are common problems on your hard drive, often leading to corrupted files or directories and affecting your entire system.

To ensure that you keep your HDD healthy, you should periodically perform a defragmentation or chkdsk command, which is within reach of any simple user.

To perform HDD defragmentation in Windows 10, just follow the steps below:

➡Other useful tips

Sometimes when your PC is damaged, it becomes impossible to open specific files. A safe solution would be opening files or directories in Safe Mode or creating a new user profile.

Also, if you don’t knowhow to repair corrupted files in Windows 10, we provide you with the quickest solutions to get you out of a problem.

We hope our solutions above helped you fix the problem of corrupted or unreadable files or directories on your Windows 10 PC.

If you have other suggestions or questions on this topic, feel free to access the comments section below.

6 Fixes: The File or Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable#

What does it mean when it says the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable?#

How can I fix the corrupted folder on Windows 10?#

1. Use the chkdsk tool#

2. Keep reconnecting your external storage device#

3. Format your external storage device#

4. Check the health of your hard drive#

5. Try using Safe Mode#

6. Create a new user profile#

How can I fix the corrupted and unreadable file or directory on Windows 11?#

How do you check if a folder is corrupted?#

How to prevent file or directory corruption#