What happens when you convert TAR.GZ to TGZ
- TAR.GZ and TGZ are the same format with different extensions, so nothing is re-encoded. The file is copied byte for byte and saved with a .tgz extension.
- Because the bytes are identical, the TGZ has exactly the same quality, dimensions and size as the TAR.GZ.
How to convert TAR.GZ to TGZ online
- Press "Choose TAR.GZ 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 TGZ". The archive engine, about 1 MB, loads the first time; then the time depends on how much is inside the archive.
- Save each TGZ with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert TAR.GZ to TGZ?
TAR.GZ files usually come from source code releases, Linux software and server backups. People convert them to TGZ because TGZ 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, TAR.GZ is good at what it was made for, and TGZ is the more practical choice when the file has to open, upload or print somewhere else. TAR.GZ opens natively on macOS and Linux, and on Windows 11 since its 2023 update, while TGZ opens natively on macOS and Linux, and with 7-Zip on Windows.
How to convert TAR.GZ to TGZ on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your TAR.GZ files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each TGZ is saved to your Downloads folder.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the TAR.GZ files from Finder onto the drop zone and the TGZ files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose TAR.GZ files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted TGZ appears in Files, in the Downloads folder.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose TAR.GZ files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The TGZ is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
TAR.GZ vs TGZ: the differences
| TAR.GZ | TGZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gzip-compressed tar archive | Gzip-compressed tar archive |
| Type | archive | archive |
| Created by | the GNU project | the GNU project |
| First released | 1992 | 1992 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | a TAR archive compressed with gzip | a TAR archive compressed with gzip |
| In a browser | opens natively on macOS and Linux, and on Windows 11 since its 2023 update | opens natively on macOS and Linux, and with 7-Zip on Windows |
| Common uses | source code releases, Linux software and server backups | source code releases and Linux software |
| MIME type | application/gzip | application/gzip |
About TAR.GZ and TGZ files
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.
What is a TGZ file?
TGZ is short for .tar.gz: a TAR bundle compressed as a whole with gzip. It is the standard way Linux and open-source projects distribute source code.
TAR.GZ to TGZ 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.GZ to TGZ from the command line
tar packs and compresses in one step once the TAR.GZ is extracted; 7-Zip extracts it:
7z x input.targz -oextracted
tar -czf output.tgz -C extracted .The converter on this page does the same job in your browser, without installing anything.
TAR.GZ to TGZ converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting TAR.GZ to TGZ?
No. TAR.GZ and TGZ are the same format, and the file is copied without being re-encoded.
Why is the TGZ a different size from the TAR.GZ?
It is not: the TGZ is the same size as the TAR.GZ, byte for byte.
Are my TAR.GZ 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 TAR.GZ files to TGZ 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 TGZ file?
TGZ opens natively on macOS and Linux, and with 7-Zip on Windows. TGZ is common for source code releases and Linux software.
Is this TAR.GZ to TGZ 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.GZ to TGZ 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.