What happens when you convert ZIP to TAR.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.
- 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 ZIP to TAR.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 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 ZIP to TAR.GZ?
ZIP files usually come from sending several files at once and downloading software. 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, ZIP 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. ZIP opens with the built-in tools of Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, while TAR.GZ opens natively on macOS and Linux, and on Windows 11 since its 2023 update.
How to convert ZIP to TAR.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 TAR.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 TAR.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 TAR.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 TAR.GZ is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for ZIP to TAR.GZ
There is nothing to set: every file in the ZIP 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.
ZIP vs TAR.GZ: the differences
| ZIP | TAR.GZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | ZIP archive | Gzip-compressed tar archive |
| Type | archive | archive |
| Created by | Phil Katz (PKWARE) | the GNU project |
| First released | 1989 | 1992 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | many files and folders, each compressed separately | a TAR archive compressed with gzip |
| In a browser | opens with the built-in tools of Windows, macOS, iOS and Android | opens natively on macOS and Linux, and on Windows 11 since its 2023 update |
| Common uses | sending several files at once and downloading software | source code releases, Linux software and server backups |
| MIME type | application/zip | application/gzip |
About ZIP and TAR.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 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.
ZIP 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 ZIP to TAR.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 TAR.GZ converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting ZIP 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 ZIP?
Different archive formats compress differently, so the TAR.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 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 ZIP 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 ZIP 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.