diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/preferences/panes/security-segments/DataBackups.tsx b/app/assets/javascripts/preferences/panes/security-segments/DataBackups.tsx
index 13637dab5..9dec8bcbc 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/preferences/panes/security-segments/DataBackups.tsx
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/preferences/panes/security-segments/DataBackups.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { alertDialog } from '@Services/alertService';
 import {
   STRING_IMPORT_SUCCESS,
   STRING_INVALID_IMPORT_FILE,
+  STRING_IMPORTING_ZIP_FILE,
   STRING_UNSUPPORTED_BACKUP_FILE_VERSION,
   StringImportError
 } from '@/strings';
@@ -36,6 +37,11 @@ export const DataBackups = observer(({
   };
 
   const readFile = async (file: File): Promise<any> => {
+    if (file.type === 'application/zip') {
+      application.alertService.alert(STRING_IMPORTING_ZIP_FILE);
+      return;
+    }
+
     return new Promise((resolve) => {
       const reader = new FileReader();
       reader.onload = (e) => {
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/strings.ts b/app/assets/javascripts/strings.ts
index 15d69e72c..1f6f647d8 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/strings.ts
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/strings.ts
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@ export const STRING_GENERATING_LOGIN_KEYS = 'Generating Login Keys...';
 export const STRING_GENERATING_REGISTER_KEYS = 'Generating Account Keys...';
 export const STRING_INVALID_IMPORT_FILE =
   'Unable to open file. Ensure it is a proper JSON file and try again.';
+export const STRING_IMPORTING_ZIP_FILE =
+  'The file you selected is not a valid backup file. Please extract the contents of the zip file, then upload the contained .txt file.';
 export function StringImportError(errorCount: number) {
   return `Import complete. ${errorCount} items were not imported because there was an error decrypting them. Make sure the password is correct and try again.`;
 }