Archive converter
Open a ZIP, TAR or GZ archive and take files out of it, convert it to another archive type, or pack loose files into one.
How the files you choose are handled is set out in the privacy policy.
How to use it
To open an archive
- Tap Choose an archive or files and pick a ZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ or GZ file.
- The files inside are listed. Press Save beside any file to take it out.
To convert an archive
- Open the archive as above.
- Under Save everything as, choose the type you want.
- Press Make archive, then Save archive.
To pack files into an archive
- Tap Choose an archive or files and select two or more files.
- Choose ZIP or TAR.GZ and press Make archive.
What it can open and make
| Type | Open | Make | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP | Yes | Yes | Everywhere. Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone open it without extra apps |
| TAR.GZ / TGZ | Yes | Yes | Linux and Mac, source code, server backups |
| TAR | Yes | Yes | The same, without compression |
| GZ | Yes | No | A single compressed file, often logs and data exports |
| RAR | No | No | See below |
| 7z | No | No | See below |
About RAR and 7z
RAR is a private format owned by the makers of WinRAR, and this site does not include a reader for it. 7z is not supported either. The tool tells you when you choose one of these and does not pretend to open it.
The way to convert a RAR to ZIP is in two steps. Extract the RAR on your device first: Windows 11 opens RAR files directly, and on other devices a free app such as 7-Zip, The Unarchiver or ZArchiver will do it. Then choose the extracted files here and make a ZIP from them.
ZIP or TAR.GZ?
Choose ZIP when the archive is going to another person. Current phones and computers open it without extra software. Choose TAR.GZ when it is going to a Linux server or a developer who asked for it. TAR.GZ often comes out a little smaller, because it compresses all the files together, where ZIP compresses each one separately.
Neither will shrink photos, videos, music or PDFs by much. Those are already compressed. Archives save real space on text, documents, spreadsheets and code.
Good to know
- Folders inside an archive are kept when it is converted.
- Password-protected ZIP files cannot be opened.
- Everything is held in memory while it is packed, so on a phone keep archives under a few hundred megabytes.
- File permissions and dates from TAR archives are simplified.
Questions
Can I convert RAR to ZIP?
Not in one step, because RAR files cannot be opened here. Extract the RAR with your device's file manager or a free app, then choose the extracted files in this tool to make a ZIP.
How do I take one file out of a ZIP?
Open the ZIP here and press Save beside the file you want. You do not need to extract everything.
What is a TAR.GZ file?
Two things in one. TAR bundles many files into a single file, and GZ compresses that bundle. It is the usual archive type on Linux, and .tgz is the same thing with a shorter name.
Why is my ZIP barely smaller than the original files?
The files were already compressed. Pictures, videos, music and PDFs do not shrink further. A ZIP is still useful for sending many files as one.
Can I open a ZIP with a password?
No. Encrypted ZIP files are not supported.