unable to unzip file

Which zip tool and which platform was used to create this zip?

Which unzip tool and which version is being used to unzip this with Catalina?

Do other unzip tools and other platforms have similar issues with this zip?

Using the command line, use zip -v and unzip -v and see if the versions shown ate older than InfoZip zip 3.0 and unzip 6.0.

If older, upgrade using homebrew or otherwise. And if it’s not InfoZip zip and unzip you’re finding, homebrew yourself copies of InfoZip zip and unzip, and check again.

Also see the following discussion for a different issue with Catalina unzip, for ideas and for potential work-arounds:

unzip error 22: invalid argument - Apple Community

Follow the Safe Mode link.

The blue text coloration used around here means the text is a hyperlink; that it’s clickable.

Clicking on that link will take you to a web page showing Apple’s instructions on using Safe Mode.

Also please post the EtreCheck data, too. To post that data here, open a new reply here and then press the button that looks like a printed page to get a text input box big enough to paste the hardware and software configuration report here.

The zip and unzip commands shown are command-line tools.

You’re seemingly not using the command line here.

And until Safari is willing to download the file in its entirety, that won’t matter.

Is this problem arising on a residential or a business network?

If Safari isn’t downloading larger files, that’s not zip or unzip. There’s something else going on.

Any add-on anti-malware, add-on anti-virus, add-on cleaners, add-on network firewalls, or add-on VPN clients here?

Does this same issue arise when booted in Safe Mode? That rebuilds caches, and disables various extensions and add-ins.

Download and run and post the output of EtreCheck here. Open a new reply here and then press the button that looks like a printed page to get a text input box big enough to paste the hardware and software configuration report here.

Once you have a complete zip archive downloaded....

Make absolutely sure whatever is zipping this is minimally running zip 3.0, and minimally unzip 6.0.

zip -V
unzip -V

Earlier versions of zip and unzip don’t play well with larger files.

But with a failing Safari download, you haven’t gotten to unzip.

Error 79 - Inappropriate file type or format. I cannot download the entire file! Catalina 10.15.3, Safari 13.0.5 cannot download zip files larger 3 GB. After the file has been partially downloaded, I open downloads, select file and Apple Archive Utility attempts to open the file after a few seconds receive error 79 message! Safari preferences, general tab, "Open Safe files after downloading..." is unchecked. Safari preferences, Websites tab, added URL to the list, marked "Allow", When visiting other website "Ask".

Apple am I to understand that we have to download a different unzip file because the Archive Utility will not work with larger files? Please advise what application would be recommended for my iMac?

I agree with you, if I cannot download the entire file then Archive Utility is not to blame. No anti virus applications, etc. running or installed. ONLY applications installed. Not sure how to run safe mode, never done it. Cannot locate Archive Utility on iMac to inform you what version I have. Searched in applications, and under utilities.

Only Apple applications installed.