Tips to open W3Z file

Can't open the W3Z file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open W3Z files as well as a list of programs that support W3Z files.

W3Z file extension

File Name Warcraft 3 Saved Game Format
File Developer Blizzard Entertainment
File Category Game Files

The W3Z file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the W3Z files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the W3Z file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is W3Z file?

The file in the W3Z format belongs to the Game Files category. It was designed by Blizzard Entertainment. Game Files consists of 1509 similar files. Warcraft 3 Saved Game Format is supported by 2 operating systems. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Mac OS, Windows. It is recommended to use Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos to handle this file. This is a program created by Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.. There are also 2 alternative programs to handle the W3Z file. The Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne programs will also handle the file when the Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos program does not fulfill its role.

How to open W3Z file?

The main problem with Warcraft 3 Saved Game Format is that the W3Z file is incorrectly associated with programs. This causes the file W3Z to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the W3Z file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos

An often overlooked issue is to make sure that Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos is installed on the computer. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos in it. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file W3Z with Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. Below is a list of programs that support the file W3Z.

Step 2. Create association of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos with W3Z files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the W3Z file still does not use the Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos program, it means no association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. However, it is important to check the "Always use the selected program ..." box, this will allow you to permanently associate the W3Z file with the Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos application.

Step 3. Update Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos program, it is possible that Warcraft 3 Saved Game Format requires a newer version of the program. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. website and install the latest version.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the W3Z file

Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. The most common file problems are:

Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. Usually this applies to W3Z files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the W3Z file that we want to open. However, remember that not every infected W3Z file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the W3Z files changes over time. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular W3Z file corruption. You can restore the file from a backup or use Blizzard Entertainment help.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted W3Z files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. If possible, you can try to move the W3Z file to another location.
This problem usually affects more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file W3Z to close. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the W3Z file for a certain period of time. If this does not work either, restart the device.