What happens when you convert TAR to ZIP
- Every file and folder in the TAR is extracted in your browser and packed into a new ZIP with the same structure. Nothing is uploaded.
- ZIP opens on every computer and phone without extra software, which is usually the point of converting.
How to convert TAR to ZIP online
- Press "Choose TAR 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 ZIP". The archive engine, about 1 MB, loads the first time; then the time depends on how much is inside the archive.
- Save each ZIP with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert TAR to ZIP?
TAR files usually come from software source code and Linux and Mac backups. People convert them to ZIP because ZIP opens on every computer and phone with no extra software.
In short, TAR is good at what it was made for, and ZIP is the more practical choice when the file has to open, upload or print somewhere else. TAR opens natively on macOS and Linux, and with tar or 7-Zip on Windows, while ZIP opens with the built-in tools of Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
How to convert TAR to ZIP on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your TAR files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each ZIP is saved to your Downloads folder.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the TAR files from Finder onto the drop zone and the ZIP files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose TAR files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted ZIP appears in Files, in the Downloads folder.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose TAR files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The ZIP is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for TAR to ZIP
There is nothing to set: every file in the TAR is copied into the ZIP 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.
TAR vs ZIP: the differences
| TAR | ZIP | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tape archive | ZIP archive |
| Type | archive | archive |
| Created by | Unix developers at Bell Labs | Phil Katz (PKWARE) |
| First released | 1979 | 1989 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | files and folders joined end to end, without compression | many files and folders, each compressed separately |
| In a browser | opens natively on macOS and Linux, and with tar or 7-Zip on Windows | opens with the built-in tools of Windows, macOS, iOS and Android |
| Common uses | software source code and Linux and Mac backups | sending several files at once and downloading software |
| MIME type | application/x-tar | application/zip |
About TAR and ZIP files
What is a TAR file?
A TAR file bundles files without compressing them; it keeps Unix permissions and folder structure. It is usually compressed again with gzip, giving a .tar.gz or .tgz file.
What is a ZIP file?
ZIP is the one archive format every operating system opens without extra software, which is why converting other archives to ZIP is so common.
TAR to ZIP 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 TAR to ZIP from the command line
7-Zip extracts any of these formats, and a second command packs the result:
7z x input.tar -oextracted
cd extracted && 7z a ../output.zip .The converter on this page does the same job in your browser, without installing anything.
TAR to ZIP converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting TAR to ZIP?
No. Archives are lossless: every file comes out byte for byte identical.
Why is the ZIP a different size from the TAR?
Different archive formats compress differently, so the ZIP may be larger or smaller than the TAR.
Are my TAR files uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs inside this browser tab using libarchive compiled to WebAssembly and the fflate ZIP library, 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 TAR files to ZIP 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 ZIP file?
ZIP opens with the built-in tools of Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. ZIP is common for sending several files at once and downloading software.
Is this TAR to ZIP 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 TAR to ZIP 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.