How to extract a .tar file on Windows: a complete guide

Have you downloaded a package with the .tar or .tar.gz extension? And you're on Windows and you're not sure how to open it? Don't worry, it's more common than you think. These files are commonplace. UNIX and from free software, but nowadays they appear in any environment, including Windows PCs.

Before you get bogged down with tools, commands or converters, it's advisable to have a basic understanding of what you're opening. .tar is an archive format that groups files, and .tar.gz is that same file compressed with gzip.In this article, I'll tell you, step by step and with several methods, how to decompress .tar, .tar.gz files and their variants on Windows, as well as Tricksshortcuts and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

What are .tar, .gz and .tar.gz (and how do they differ from .zip)

A file .tar (Tape Archive) It is, in essence, a container that packages multiple files and folders into one, maintaining structure, permissions, and dates. It does not compress on its ownIt only groups; hence its size may be similar to the sum of the originals.

When that .tar file is compressed with a utility like gzip, you get a .tar.gz (or its short form .tgz). This one does reduce the size using lossless compression algorithms, and that's why it's the most common format seen in software distributions and backups.

And what about .zip? ZIP compresses each file separately within the containerIn .tar.gz, the entire file is compressed as a single block. This subtle difference has two practical effects: ZIP is more accessible (you can read a file without decompressing everything), while .tar.gz usually achieves a better compression ratio when the files in the set share patterns.

Besides gzip, there are other utilities: bzip2 (.tar.bz2/.tbz2), xz (.tar.xz/.txz), lzip (.tar.lz), lzma (.tar.lzma), compress (.tar.Z) and even Brotli (.tar.br) or zstd (.tar.zst). The .tar file acts as a base, and the second extension indicates the algorithm.

“There is a solution: the union of propaganda and action.” — Unite, Skalariak

Real advantages of TAR and why you'll see it in Windows

The TAR format was standardized by POSIX (POSIX.1-1998 and POSIX.1-2001) and it is deeply rooted in UNIX and LinuxIts greatest virtue is that preserve metadata (permissions, owners, timestamps) with fidelity, something key when distributing software or moving entire directories.

Their appearance in Windows is not unusual: We are moving increasingly larger packages. (from source code to multimedia), and formats like .tar.gz help to send everything in one piece and with excellent compression. Size Mattersespecially when uploading/downloading to servers or cloud services.

In case you're wondering, Not everything .gz is a .tar file.Gzip is a generic compressor: it can compress a single file of any type. Every .tar.gz file contains a .tar file inside.But a loose .gz file can be, for example, a backup.sql.gz.

.tar vs .zip: when to use one or the other

ZIP: easy access to individual files, broad native support on Windows and macOS, and manageable by non-technical users. Ideal for everyday exchanges and when you don't need UNIX metadata.

.tar.gz: packs first and compresses the assembly afterwards; It compresses better when there are similarities between files.It maintains permissions/ownership and is the de facto standard in UNIX environments. Perfect for software, copies and deployments.

Resumiendo: ZIP is more accessible and .tar.gz is more efficientIt's not that one is universally "better": it depends on your use case.

Method 1: Unzip .tar and .tar.gz files on Windows using the command line (tar)

Since Windows 10, The system includes a tar utility accessible from the Symbol of the system o PowerShellIt's very similar to the Linux version, so if you've used tar in UNIX you'll feel right at home.

Open the consoleSearch for “cmd” or “Command Prompt”, and if necessary, run it as administrator. Browse with CD up to the file folder or use full paths in the command.

Extract to current directory (shows progress):

tar -xvzf filename.tar.gz

To extract by specifying origin and destination in a single order, take advantage -C To change the output folder:

tar -xvzf C:\RUTA\ORIGEN\archivo.tar.gz -C C:\RUTA\DESTINO

The syntax is analogous to Linux: -x (extract), -v (verbose), -z (gzip) and -f (archive)If the file is not compressed (only .tar), omit the z: tar-xvf .tar file

Method 2: Open .tar and .tar.gz files with free tools on Windows

If you prefer a graphical interface or work with these formats often, There are several free and very reliable utilities For Windows. They will save you time and allow you to compress and decompress with a couple of clicks.

7-Zip: fast, open, and lightweight

7-Zip It's a classic. It supports .tar, .gz, .tgz, .tar.gz, and many more formats. To extract a .tar.gz file, You will usually see two stepsFirst, decompress the .gz layer (you will get a .tar file), and then extract the .tar file to obtain the folders and files.

From the Explorer: Right-click > 7-Zip > Extract here or “Extract to…”. If you only want to inspect the contents, choose “Open as archive” to navigate inside without extracting yet.

To compress, you can create .tar and .gz Directly. If you're looking for a .tar.gz file, first generate the .tar file and then compress it as a .gz file using 7-Zip.

PeaZip: supports almost 200 formats

PeaZip It stands out for its compatibility with a huge variety of formatsTo archive in TAR or compress in GZip, drag the files to the program window or use the "Add" button. Choose GZip for .tar.gz or TAR if you only want to group without compressing.

To extract, simply Right-click on the compressed file > PeaZip > Extract here, or “Extract…” to choose the destination path. You can also open it as a file to view its contents first.

WinRAR and WinZip: veterans with advanced features

WinRAR y WinZip They open .tar, .gz, .tgz, and many other file types. In WinRAR, check the tab Vertical In Options > Settings to associate extensions. They allow encryption and volume division. and other useful features.

Beware of WinRAR: it's sharewareYou can use it for free during a trial period, but then it requires a licenseIf you only need it occasionally, it might work for you.

B1 Free Archiver: a free and multi-platform alternative

B1 Free Archiver It handles formats such as ZIP, RAR, 7Z, GZIP, TGZ, TAR and many more. It works without problems It's available for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It includes support for... password-protected files and AES-256 encryption.

Windows 11 and native support for more formats

With Windows 11 (especially from version 24H2 onwards), The system can compress and decompress natively Most common formats such as .tar, .7z, .rar and .gz can be opened using the Explorer by right-clicking.

There is one important limitation: It does not handle encrypted filesIf you need to create or open encrypted containers, use 7-Zip or WinRARwhich do offer that capability.

If you use Windows 10, you can still work without installing anything extra with tar from the consoleYou also have 7-Zip or PeaZip as free and established alternatives.

Method 3: Convert .tar.gz to .zip with online tools

When you don't want to install anything or struggle with the console, You can convert a .tar.gz file to .zip using your browserKeep in mind the file size, the connection, and the privacy of your data.

easyZip

easyZip It works in the browser like HTML5/JavaScript applicationand it doesn't upload files to external servers. You can open .tar and .tar.gz and convert them to .zip to manipulate them with any common tool.

Convertio

With Convertio you can convert .tgz/.tar.gz to .zip quickly from local files, Google Drive or Dropbox. They accept them. Up to 100 MB without registrationThe files are stored temporarily (24 hours) and you can delete them manually.

Izarc (online)

Izarc It has an online utility for zip and unzip Many formats (TAR, ZIP, RAR, CAB, etc.). Easy for beginner users. allows you to repair damaged files and change formats without complications.

extract.me

extract.me It's a fairly comprehensive website that supports dozens of formats (7z, rar, tar, gz, iso, dmg, cab, zipx, and more). Allows drag and dropin addition to importing from Google Drive, Dropbox or URL.

Quick guide to commands: Linux and macOS (also useful as a reference)

If you work with Linux/macOS environments or simply want to understand the commands, here are the essentials. The tar utility usually comes pre-installed and automatically detects the type of compression.

Extract .tar.gz to current directory

This is the most commonly used basic command. It also works with .tar.bz2 or .tar.xz, changing the automatically detected algorithm.

tar -xf archivo.tar.gz

If you want to see what's being extracted, add -v (verbose mode):

tar -xvf archivo.tar.gz

Extract to another folder

To extract to a specific path, -C changes the destination directory:

tar -xf archivo.tar.gz -C /ruta/de/destino

Extract only some files or directories

Specify the exact names (respect uppercase/lowercase) after the file name. You can use wildcards with –wildcards if you need it.

tar -xf archivo.tar.gz fichero1 directorio1

tar -xf archivo.tar.gz --wildcards '*.txt'

List the contents of a .tar.gz file

Seeing what's inside without removing it is very useful to avoid naming mistakes. -t list, -v adds detail (permits, sizes, dates).

tar -tf archivo.tar.gz

tar -tvf archivo.tar.gz

Unzip by reading from stdin (e.g., download with wget)

When you link discharge and extraction in a single pipe, add -z for gzip If you're dealing with .tar.gz:

wget -c https://ejemplo.com/archivo.tar.gz -O - | sudo tar -xz

Compress and decompress with gzip

gzip It's in almost all distributions. Compressing a .tar file and decompressing a .tar.gz file is straightforward:

gzip archivo.tar        # crea archivo.tar.gz
gzip -d archivo.tar.gz  # deja archivo.tar

If you would like to keep the original When compressing, use -k, or redirect the output with -c to create a different name:

gzip -k archivo.tar

gzip -c archivo.tar > nuevo-archivo.tar.gz

You can also compress/decompress multiple at once or entire directories recursively:

gzip fichero1 fichero2

gzip -d fichero1.gz fichero2.gz

gzip -r carpeta

gzip -dr carpeta

Typical errors and how to solve them

Working via console is very efficient, but a simple misplaced character This can disrupt the process. These are the most common issues and how to fix them.

“tar: NAME: Not found in archive”

You're trying to extract a specific file, but the name does not match (pay attention to uppercase/lowercase) or it simply does not exist within the tar.

tar -xf archivo.tar.gz README

tar: README: Not found in archive
 tar: Exiting with failure status due to previous errors

Solution: list the contents with tar -tf file.tar.gz, copy the name exactly as it appears and run the command again.

“tar: Archive is compressed. Use -z option”

You've read the compressed file via stdin, or you're opening a .tar.gz file without specifying that it's compressed with gzip.

wget -c https://ejemplo.com/archivo.tar.gz -O - | sudo tar -x

tar: Archive is compressed. Use -z option
 tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now

Solution: add -z (gzip), or use -j for bzip2, -J for xz, as appropriate.

“gzip: stdin: not in gzip format”

The file claims to be a .gz file extension, but It is not compressed with gzip really (renamed by hand, corrupt download…).

gzip: stdin: not in gzip format
 tar: Child returned status 1
 tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors

Solution: Try treating it like .tar normal (tar -xf file.tar). If that fails, search another copy of the file that it is well compressed.

“tar: Unrecognized archive format”

The file is not a genuine tar file even though it has the extension. It may be damaged or of another type.

tar: Unrecognized archive format
 tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors

Solution: test gunzip If applicable, check with tar -tvf to see if a specific culprit emerges, or better download again the file from its source.