What happens when you convert ZIP to TAR
- Every file and folder in the ZIP is extracted in your browser and packed into a new TAR with the same structure. Nothing is uploaded.
- TAR does not compress, so the result is about the size of all the files added together.
- Password-protected archives cannot be converted, because they cannot be opened without the password.
How to convert ZIP to TAR 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 TAR". The archive engine, about 1 MB, loads the first time; then the time depends on how much is inside the archive.
- Save each TAR with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert ZIP to TAR?
ZIP files usually come from sending several files at once and downloading software. People convert them to TAR because TAR is what Linux and Mac tools, servers and build systems expect.
In short, ZIP is good at what it was made for, and TAR 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 TAR opens natively on macOS and Linux, and with tar or 7-Zip on Windows.
How to convert ZIP to TAR 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 TAR 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 TAR 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 TAR 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 TAR is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for ZIP to TAR
There is nothing to set: every file in the ZIP is copied into the TAR 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 TAR: the differences
| ZIP | TAR | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | ZIP archive | Tape archive |
| Type | archive | archive |
| Created by | Phil Katz (PKWARE) | Unix developers at Bell Labs |
| First released | 1989 | 1979 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | many files and folders, each compressed separately | files and folders joined end to end, without compression |
| In a browser | opens with the built-in tools of Windows, macOS, iOS and Android | opens natively on macOS and Linux, and with tar or 7-Zip on Windows |
| Common uses | sending several files at once and downloading software | software source code and Linux and Mac backups |
| MIME type | application/zip | application/x-tar |
About ZIP and TAR 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 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.
ZIP to TAR 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 TAR from the command line
7-Zip extracts any of these formats, and a second command packs the result:
7z x input.zip -oextracted
cd extracted && 7z a ../output.tar .The converter on this page does the same job in your browser, without installing anything.
ZIP to TAR converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting ZIP to TAR?
No. Archives are lossless: every file comes out byte for byte identical.
Why is the TAR a different size from the ZIP?
TAR does not compress, so it is usually larger than the original archive.
Are my ZIP 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 ZIP files to TAR 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 file?
TAR opens natively on macOS and Linux, and with tar or 7-Zip on Windows. TAR is common for software source code and Linux and Mac backups.
Is this ZIP to TAR 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 TAR 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.