Forum Discussion
How can I untar or unzip tar.gz file on windows 11?
I recently switched to Windows 11 and I'm having trouble unzipping a .tar.gz file created on a Linux machine. I've done some research, but the steps seem a bit confusing for me as a beginner.
Can someone please guide me step-by-step on how to unzip or untar tar.gz file on Windows 11? If there's a specific tool or method I should use, please let me know and could be better if you explain it clearly.
Also, if there are any free tools or built-in options, that would be great!
Looking forward to your help.
8 Replies
- JulianEdwardsIron Contributor
The built-in tar command is fairly enough to let you unzip tar.gz file on Windows 11/10.
- AbigailYoungIron Contributor
I won't recommend using 7Zip for unzipping .tar.gz file on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
1. Relatively complex operation
For newbies who are not familiar with computer operation, using 7Zip to decompress .tar.gz files may require some learning costs. Because .tar.gz is compressed in two layers, you have to decompress the .gz layer first to get the .tar file, and then decompress the .tar file to get the final content. If the operation is not skillful, there may be mishandling in the process, such as decompressing to the wrong folder and so on.2. The interface is not user-friendly enough
7Zip's interface is relatively simple and lacks some modern interactive design. For users who are used to graphical operation and are looking for a simple and intuitive interface, it may not be as user-friendly as some decompression tools or third-party commercial software that are integrated into the system.3. Performance issues
When working with very large .tar.gz files, 7Zip may experience performance bottlenecks and slow decompression speeds. This may be especially true if the computer hardware configuration is low.Honestly, the paid apps are much more easier to untar tar.gz files on Windows. It is recommended testing the solution out by yourself.
- JulianEdwardsIron Contributor
7-Zip is lightweight, fast, and completely free for both personal and commercial use, with no ads or hidden costs. It also provides a command-line version for advanced users and scripting. Unlike some proprietary tools, 7-Zip is transparent and trustworthy, with its source code available for review. It’s widely used for extracting TAR.GZ, RAR, and other archives on Windows, making it a popular alternative to paid software like WinRAR.
To unzip a .tar.gz file using 7-Zip on Windows 11, follow these steps:
Step 1: Install 7-Zip
If you haven't already installed 7-Zip, you can download it from the official website:
Step 2: Locate the .tar.gz File Find the .tar.gz file you want to unzip on your computer.
Step 3: Open 7-Zip File Manager
Right-click on the .tar.gz file. From the context menu, hover over 7-Zip and then select Extract Here or Extract to "FolderName" (where "FolderName" is the name of the .tar.gz file without the extension).
Step 4: Handling Nested Compression (if necessary)
If the .tar.gz file is a nested compression (i.e., it contains a .tar file inside a .gz file), 7-Zip will automatically unzip .tar.gz file in most cases.
Alternatively, you can extract both layers at once by selecting Extract Here or Extract to "FolderName" directly from the .tar.gz file, and 7-Zip should handle the nested compression automatically.
- DeclanGrayIron Contributor
Unzipping .tar.gz files on Windows 11 using an online tool like ezyZip is definitely convenient. But the biggest red flag is privacy. When you upload files to an online service, you're kind of trusting that the site isn’t going to do anything shady with your data. If you're working with sensitive info, it’s best to avoid online tools like ezyZip. You don’t want to risk someone snooping around in your files.
Another bummer is that many online tools have limits on how big your files can be. So if you’ve got a massive .tar.gz file, you might hit a wall and have to find another way to extract it. It can be super frustrating when you’ve got stuff to do and you hit constraint after constraint.
Depending on the tool, you might not get the output in one tidy package. Sometimes you could end up having to download files one by one if the tool doesn’t zip them back up nicely, which can be tedious. Online tools generally focus on basic functions. So if you’re looking for advanced features like encryption, batch processing, or support for multiple formats, you might find them lacking compared to dedicated software. For sensitive files or larger jobs, sticking to a reliable desktop application to unzip tar.gz might be the better route to go. Trust me, it saves a lot of headache in the long run!
- CalebStoneSilver Contributor
While unzipping .tar.gz file on Windows 11 using the built-in tar command is a powerful feature, it does come with its quirks. If you’re comfortable with the command line, it can be super effective. The command line is powerful, it doesn’t provide as many features as dedicated applications. For example, if you need to manage multiple archive formats or want a user-friendly process with drag-and-drop capability, that can be a hassle in the terminal. If you find the command line isn’t cutting it for your needs, consider using a dedicated app like 7-Zip or WinRAR, which can handle more formats and give you a graphical interface.
Sometimes, you might need elevated permissions to extract files, especially in certain directories. If you forget to run P0werShell as an administrator, you might get permission errors. I totally overlooked this once and wasted time trying to troubleshoot instead of just running as admin! If you encounter permission issues, try running PowerShell as an admin (right-click the Start button, select Terminal (Admin) or Windows P0werShell (Admin)).
On Windows to unzip tar.gz files, file permissions might not always translate correctly from the Linux environment where the .tar.gz was created. This can lead to issues if files have specific permissions that Windows doesn’t recognize properly. After extraction, check the files to make sure they've worked the way you expected, especially if they’re scripts or executables.
- FinleyGroveIron Contributor
Unzipping a .tar.gz file is usually a smooth process, but there are definitely some common mistakes and pitfalls you’ll want to dodge to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. Here’s the lowdown, based on some of my own experiences (and a bit of trial and error, of course).
1. This is a biggie! If you try to extract a .tar.gz file and you don’t have enough space on your drive, you’ll get an error, and the whole extraction thing will just fail. Before you unzip, check how large the archive is and make sure you have at least that much space available—and maybe a bit extra, just to be safe. You don’t want to be caught in a digital limbo!
2. Trying to unzip a .tar.gz file with software that doesn’t support it can lead to confusion and errors. I once tried opening one with a basic archive tool that only handled zip files, and I was left scratching my head. So make sure you’re using the right tool, like tar through the command line, or a dedicated extractor that explicitly lists .tar.gz support. If you’re using an online tool, check that it mentions supporting that format.
3. If you’re going down the command line route to unzip tar.gz, the syntax can trip you up. Forgetting a flag or mistyping the file name can lead to errors. I’ve definitely mistyped a file name and found myself yelling at the screen when it wouldn’t work. Double-check your commands before hitting Enter, and remember that the terminal is case-sensitive. Copy-pasting file names can help avoid this.
- ThomasKingIron Contributor
Why not try ezyZip if you are going to untar tar.gz file on Windows 11 pc? While ezyZip focuses more on zipping files, it can also unzip .tar.gz files. You can drag and drop your file right onto the page, and it’ll let you extract the contents directly in your browser.
Pros: No ads, and it lets you handle both zipping and unzipping easily.
How to untar tar.gz on Windows 11?
- Go to the Website: Click on the link for the tool you're interested in.
- Upload Your File: Look for the upload button and select your .tar.gz file from your computer.
- Extract the Files: The tool should automatically start extracting once you upload, or you might need to click a button to initiate the extraction.
- Download: After extraction, you'll either download a zipped user-friendly format with all the files or the files themselves individually.
Since you're uploading files to an online service for untar tar.gz on Windows 11 pc, be mindful of the content you're extracting. Avoid using these tools for sensitive or confidential files, just to be safe. Some online tools may have file size limits, so check the specifics on their sites if you encounter an issue.
- NatalieBrooksIron Contributor
Tar.gz is a very popular archive format in Linux environment. Now, you can use the built-in tar command in powershell to unzip tar.gz file on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
In Windows 11, the tar command is a built-in utility for handling .tar, .tar.gz, .tar.bz2, and .zip archives. It is available in PowerShell and Command Prompt and works similarly to the Unix/Linux tar command.
Press Win + X and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell.
Navigate to the folder containing the .tar.gz file:
cd "C:\path\to\your\file"
Untar tar.gz file in Windows 11/10 with the following command:
tar -xzf filename.tar.gz
-x : Extract
-z : Decompress gzip
-f : Specify filename
The extracted files from tar.gz archive will appear in the same folder.
If you don't like the command line approache, pls use a dedicated app to untar tar.gz file on Windows.