Error Couldn’t communicate with a helper application. when compressing folder

I don't have a solution or even an answer, exactly, but I have a work-around. I'm getting this same problem, and additionally, when I try to copy or move a directory, I get a message that the Finder can't complete the operation because some data in "" can't be read or written (Error code -36). Again, just a problem with directories/folders, but single files are fine.

The issue seems to be with the fact that I'm in my iCloud Documents folder. If I create another directory in my home directory, and copy the files in there, I can compress it with no problem. So, a work-around, and the bits of a root cause, but not exactly a fix.

nessnik wrote:

Im getting Error

Couldn’t communicate with a helper application.

When I try to compress folders.

no issue when compressing files, only folders.

using iCloud

Ventura 13.1

Mac studio

Checked permissions...no issues with it.

The current stable release of Ventura including bug fixes, security updates is macOS Ventura 13.2 I would start there.

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

if no insight or resolve and the Archive Utility.app is not working as expected try an alternative compression software, there are many.

one ex. https://www.keka.io/en/

Keka support/compressing https://github.com/aonez/Keka/wiki/Compressing-with-Keka

ref:

If you can’t compress a file or folder on Mac - Apple Support

Zip and unzip files and folders on Mac - Apple Support