Although tar files are usually more common on Linux distros (for example, Ubuntu) and macOS for backups and archival, you may also come across these files on Windows 11. You could use third-party tools like 7-Zip and PeaZip, but these are not recommended as they don’t always work to extra .tar.gz files. Instead, you should be using the native tar support available on Windows 11 or a Linux distro in WSL. All you need is a file archiver like 7-Zip or WinRAR, and you can easily extract the contents of the GZ file. Simply download and install the archiver, right-click on the GZ file, select the appropriate option to extract the file, and voila! If you don’t want to install any file compression software, you can quickly extract .gz, tar.gz or .tar files using the Tar command in command prompt on Windows 11 or 10.
Download and install a file archiver that supports GZ files, such as 7-Zip or WinRAR. Tar.gz has become the standard format used for distributing Linux and open source software since it’s easy to extract on basically any platform that isn’t Windows. There are a few alternative solutions to 7-Zip capable of extracting files from GZ archives, such as WinRAR, WinZip, and File Viewer Plus. Ankit Gupta is a writer by profession and has more than 7 years of global writing experience on technology and other areas. He follows technological developments and likes to write about Windows & IT security.
Once you’ve selected the right file, you’ll see “7-Zip File Manager” show up in the select app dialog. If you want 7-Zip to always handle tar.gz files in the future, you’re going to want to select the “Always” button at the bottom of the dialog. GZ files are a kind of archive formats that were compressed with the standard GNU zip (gzip) compression algorithm. They are commonly used on UNIX-based operating systems like Linux distros and macOS.
How to Open or Extract .Gz, Tar.gz or .Tar File in Windows 11/10
Firstly, open an elevated command prompt by search for “cmd” on the Windows 11 or 10 search bar. Right-click “Command Prompt” from the search result and select “Run as administrator“. 5] Now select and right-click the TGZ file, hit, 7-zip, and press the Extract files to open the Extract window as shown below. Also, we skipped some options that are usually useful to preserve permissions since they are not required on Windows 11.
What is a Tar.gz File?
But they are sometimes used for regular data archiving purposes; hence, Windows 11/10 users may also come across such types of files and may need to extract their content. In this guide, you will learn the steps to use native tar commands on Windows 11 using Command Prompt and Ubuntu to extract the content of a .tar.gz file. Renaming the file with a .gz file or with another extension will not extract the files.
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Make sure to update the syntax to include the source and destination paths. 6] You will see a new folder path is already included in the ‘Extract to’ text box. It’s important to note that Microsoft is building native support for TAR, GZ, 7-Zip, RAR, and many other archival formats to File Explorer.
Once the files are uncompressed, click Download or Save button to save these files on your device. These GZ files are developed and used commonly in Linux distros and macOS. This does not mean that we cannot open GZ files in Windows and Android. It is one of the file compressors using the GNU zip compression algorithm. These GZ files were first developed by Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler. The author combines expert insights with user-centric guidance, rigorously researching and testing to ensure you receive trustworthy, easy-to-follow tech guides.
- After completing the steps, you’ll have successfully extracted the contents of the GZ file and you can access and use them just like any other files on your computer.
- Changing the file extension will not damage the contents of the file.
- Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003.
It’s a free archiving utility for both personal and commercial purposes, which offers support for the .gz file extension. Usually, tar how to buy xyo on kucoin 2.zero files are more common with Ubuntu (other Linux distros) and macOS users for data archival and backups. However, Windows 10 users may also come across these files, which is a reason to have a way to extract their contents. And now you can use the 7-Zip File Manager to open, view, or extract files from tar.gz and other archives. If you want a specific file, you can drill down into the folder, or you can simply click the “Extract” button and choose a location to put all the files.
However, as we’ve just explored, they’re really not that difficult to handle. With a simple file archiver like 7-Zip or WinRAR, you can open GZ files in a matter of minutes and access the data contained within. Remember, the key to success with GZ files is having the right tools and following the steps carefully.
Windows command line unzipping
Now, hit the ‘Extract all’ button to open the window directly below. Once you complete the steps, the files and folders will extract to the specified destination. Pete loves all things technology and is also an avid DIYer at heart.
You will need conversion software to perform compression or extraction process. Both options will extract the contents of the GZ file, but with “Extract Here,” the contents will be placed in the same location as the GZ file. If you select “Extract files,” you can specify a different folder to place the extracted files. This guide will teach you the steps to use native tar commands on Windows 10 from Command Prompt and Ubuntu to extract the content of a .tar.gz file.
If you have received a GZ file for the first time, then it may raise a few questions such as how to open GZ file in Windows 10, in Android phones, or online. Yes, you will need a file archiver like 7-Zip or WinRAR to open and extract the contents of a GZ file on Windows 11. A GZ file is a compressed file created using the Gzip compression utility, commonly used in Unix and Linux systems. Once the extraction process is complete, a new folder or files will appear in the destination you’ve chosen. These are the contents of the GZ file, and you can now use them as needed.
A file with the TGZ or GZ file extension is created using the Unix-based archival application tar and further compressed using GZIP Compression. These files are made up of a collection of files placed in a TAR archive mainly for making storage and tracking easy. To summarize, you can easily extract files from archives with the .gz file extension by turning to archiving tools that support this format. 7-Zip is an awesome choice for Windows and Linux users since it’s completely free for both personal and commercial purposes.
For a more detailed explanation on how the tar command works, be sure to read our guide to compressing and extracting files in the Linux Terminal. The tar command is extremely powerful, and you can do things like list or search for files in a tar archive, or extract a single file. 7-Zip can work with most compression methods and extensions including .gz, tar.gz and .tar.