Quick answer: To open a .tar.gz file, choose it here and press Extract files: the gzip layer is decompressed and the TAR archive unpacked in your browser, up to 1 GB, and you save the files one by one or as a ZIP. .tgz, .tar.bz2, .tar.xz and plain .tar files work the same way.
Source code, backups, server logs and Linux downloads often come as .tar.gz. Open one here and save the files inside, without a terminal or an extra app.
Extract TAR.GZ at a glance
| Price | Free, no sign-up, no watermark, no daily limit |
|---|---|
| Accepts | TAR · TGZ · TAR.GZ · TAR.XZ |
| Largest file | 1 GB per file |
| Where it runs | In your browser: files are never uploaded |
| Works on | Any modern browser on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac and Linux |
| Send the result | Download it, or send it free with a link or by email (up to 20 GB) |
How to extract TAR.GZ
- Choose the .tar.gz, .tgz, .tar.xz, .tar.bz2 or .tar file.
- Check the list of files it contains.
- Press Extract files.
- Save single files, or everything as a ZIP that opens on any device.
Two layers: TAR and gzip
A .tar.gz is two formats in one. TAR bundles many files and folders into one file, keeping names and folder structure; gzip then compresses that bundle. Opening it means undoing both, which this page does in one step. The same goes for other compressors:
| Extension | Compression |
|---|---|
| .tar.gz, .tgz | gzip, the most common |
| .tar.bz2, .tbz2 | bzip2, smaller, slower |
| .tar.xz, .txz | xz, smallest, used for many Linux downloads |
| .tar | none, just bundled |
Opening TAR.GZ on each device
- Windows 10 and 11: the built-in tar command works in a terminal (tar -xzf file.tar.gz); recent Windows 11 versions also open these archives in File Explorer; 7-Zip works too.
- Mac: double-clicking uses Archive Utility, and tar is built into Terminal.
- iPhone, iPad and Android: support in the Files apps varies; this page works in Safari and Chrome.
Limits and a single .gz file
The archive is read into memory, so very large archives are better on a computer. Password-protected and split archives are not supported. For RAR and 7z use Extract RAR or Extract 7z; for ZIP, Unzip files.
How this compares
| This tool | Online converters (e.g. ezyZip or CloudConvert) | Desktop apps (e.g. 7-Zip or WinRAR) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your file is uploaded | No | Yes, to their servers | No |
| Install or account | None | Account for some features | Install needed |
| Watermark or daily limits | None | Common on free plans | Depends on the app |
Plans of other services change; check their sites. More file tools.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a .tar.gz file on Windows?
Choose it on this page and press Extract files, or run tar -xzf file.tar.gz in a Windows terminal, or use 7-Zip.
What is the difference between .tar.gz and .tgz?
None. .tgz is a short form of .tar.gz: a TAR archive compressed with gzip.
Are folders kept?
Each extracted file shows the folder it came from, but the files are saved by name without the folder tree. For deeply nested source trees, a desktop tool such as 7-Zip keeps the structure.
Is the archive uploaded?
No. It is unpacked in your browser.
Need to send a big file?
Send files up to 20 GB with a download link or by email. Free, no account needed, original quality.
Send large files free