What happens when you convert RAR to TAR.GZ
- Every file and folder in the RAR is extracted in your browser and packed into a new TAR with the same structure, which is then compressed with gzip. Nothing is uploaded.
- Files packed into the new TAR get the usual permissions (the owner can read and write, everyone else can read) and today's date, because RAR stores those differently.
- TGZ and TAR.GZ are the same format with two spellings. tar on Mac and Linux, Windows 10 and later, 7-Zip and The Unarchiver all open both.
- Password-protected archives cannot be converted, because they cannot be opened without the password.
How to convert RAR to TAR.GZ online
- Press "Choose RAR files" and select one or more files, or drag them onto the box. You can add files of any size your device can hold in memory.
- There are no settings to choose: the converter keeps everything the target format can hold.
- Press "Convert to TAR.GZ". The archive engine, about 1 MB, loads the first time; then the time depends on how much is inside the archive.
- Save each TAR.GZ with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert RAR to TAR.GZ?
RAR files usually come from large downloads split into parts and files shared on forums. People convert them to TAR.GZ because TAR.GZ is the usual way to ship files to Linux and Mac servers, and tar unpacks it on every Linux, Mac and Windows 10 or later computer.
In short, RAR is good at what it was made for, and TAR.GZ is the more practical choice when the file has to open, upload or print somewhere else. RAR opens natively in Windows 11 since its 2023 update; older Windows needs 7-Zip and a Mac needs The Unarchiver, while TAR.GZ opens natively on macOS and Linux, and on Windows 11 since its 2023 update.
How to convert RAR to TAR.GZ on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your RAR files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each TAR.GZ is saved to your Downloads folder.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the RAR files from Finder onto the drop zone and the TAR.GZ files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose RAR files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted TAR.GZ appears in Files, in the Downloads folder.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose RAR files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The TAR.GZ is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for RAR to TAR.GZ
There is nothing to set: every file in the RAR is copied into the TAR.GZ as it is.
Large archives are unpacked into your browser's memory, so very big ones, several gigabytes, are better handled by a desktop program such as 7-Zip. Archives split into several parts (.part1.rar, .part2.rar) need all parts, which this tool does not join.
RAR vs TAR.GZ: the differences
| RAR | TAR.GZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | RAR archive | Gzip-compressed tar archive |
| Type | archive | archive |
| Created by | Eugene Roshal | the GNU project |
| First released | 1993 | 1992 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | many files and folders, compressed as a whole | a TAR archive compressed with gzip |
| In a browser | opens natively in Windows 11 since its 2023 update; older Windows needs 7-Zip and a Mac needs The Unarchiver | opens natively on macOS and Linux, and on Windows 11 since its 2023 update |
| Common uses | large downloads split into parts and files shared on forums | source code releases, Linux software and server backups |
| MIME type | application/vnd.rar | application/gzip |
About RAR and TAR.GZ files
What is a RAR file?
RAR is a proprietary format: anyone can extract it, but only the WinRAR developers make software that creates it. That is why tools convert from RAR, not to it.
What is a TAR.GZ file?
A .tar.gz file is made in two steps: the files are joined into a TAR, which keeps folders and Unix permissions, and the TAR is compressed as a whole with gzip. TGZ is the same format with a shorter extension.
RAR to TAR.GZ not working? Common problems
- The archive will not open. It may be password protected, damaged, or one part of a multi-part archive.
- The browser tab stops on a big archive. Everything is unpacked in memory; very large archives are better handled by 7-Zip or The Unarchiver.
- Files have odd names. Archives made on some older systems store names in a local character set; the files themselves are intact.
Convert RAR to TAR.GZ from the command line
tar packs and compresses in one step once the RAR is extracted; 7-Zip extracts it:
7z x input.rar -oextracted
tar -czf output.tar.gz -C extracted .The converter on this page does the same job in your browser, without installing anything.
RAR to TAR.GZ converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting RAR to TAR.GZ?
No. Archives are lossless: every file comes out byte for byte identical.
Why is the TAR.GZ a different size from the RAR?
Different archive formats compress differently, so the TAR.GZ may be larger or smaller than the RAR.
Are my RAR files uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs inside this browser tab using libarchive compiled to WebAssembly and your browser's own gzip compression, so your files stay on your device. You can disconnect from the internet after the page and converter engine have loaded and it still works.
Can I convert several RAR files to TAR.GZ at once?
Yes. Select or drop as many files as you like; they are converted one after another and each gets its own download button.
How do I open a TAR.GZ file?
TAR.GZ opens natively on macOS and Linux, and on Windows 11 since its 2023 update. TAR.GZ is common for source code releases, Linux software and server backups.
Is this RAR to TAR.GZ converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many files you convert. The site is paid for by advertising, and because conversions run on your device there is no server cost per file.
Can I convert RAR to TAR.GZ on my phone?
Yes. The converter works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. Converted files are saved to the Downloads folder.