What happens when you convert ZIP to GZ
- Every file and folder in the ZIP 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 ZIP stores those differently.
- A GZ file holds one file, so the files are packed into a TAR first, and the result is saved as .tar.gz, the usual name for a gzip file that holds a TAR archive.
- Password-protected archives cannot be converted, because they cannot be opened without the password.
How to convert ZIP to GZ online
- Press "Choose ZIP 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 GZ". The archive engine, about 1 MB, loads the first time; then the time depends on how much is inside the archive.
- Save each GZ with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert ZIP to GZ?
ZIP files usually come from sending several files at once and downloading software. People convert them to GZ because gzip is the standard compression on Linux and Mac servers, and every command line and archive program unpacks it.
In short, ZIP is good at what it was made for, and GZ is the more practical choice when the file has to open, upload or print somewhere else. ZIP opens with the built-in tools of Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, while GZ opens natively on macOS, Linux and Windows 11 since its 2023 update, and with 7-Zip on older Windows.
How to convert ZIP to GZ on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your ZIP files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each GZ is saved to your Downloads folder.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the ZIP files from Finder onto the drop zone and the GZ files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose ZIP files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted GZ appears in Files, in the Downloads folder.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose ZIP files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The GZ is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for ZIP to GZ
There is nothing to set: every file in the ZIP is copied into the 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.
ZIP vs GZ: the differences
| ZIP | GZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | ZIP archive | Gzip-compressed file |
| Type | archive | archive |
| Created by | Phil Katz (PKWARE) | Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler, for the GNU project |
| First released | 1989 | 1992 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | many files and folders, each compressed separately | one file compressed with gzip, often a TAR archive of many files |
| In a browser | opens with the built-in tools of Windows, macOS, iOS and Android | opens natively on macOS, Linux and Windows 11 since its 2023 update, and with 7-Zip on older Windows |
| Common uses | sending several files at once and downloading software | compressed logs, database dumps and downloads, and Linux software as .tar.gz |
| MIME type | application/zip | application/gzip |
About ZIP and GZ files
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.
What is a GZ file?
Gzip compresses a single file, not a folder. That is why folders are packed into a TAR first and then gzipped, giving .tar.gz, and why a plain .gz holds exactly one file, usually named like the .gz without its extension.
ZIP to 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 ZIP to GZ from the command line
tar packs and compresses in one step once the ZIP is extracted; 7-Zip extracts it:
7z x input.zip -oextracted
tar -czf output.tar.gz -C extracted .The converter on this page does the same job in your browser, without installing anything.
ZIP to GZ converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting ZIP to GZ?
No. Archives are lossless: every file comes out byte for byte identical.
Why is the GZ a different size from the ZIP?
Different archive formats compress differently, so the GZ may be larger or smaller than the ZIP.
Are my ZIP 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 ZIP files to 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 GZ file?
GZ opens natively on macOS, Linux and Windows 11 since its 2023 update, and with 7-Zip on older Windows. GZ is common for compressed logs, database dumps and downloads, and Linux software as .tar.gz.
Is this ZIP to 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 ZIP to 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.