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Extract TAR and TAR.GZ files

Ethical Tube's free TAR extractor opens TAR archives, including compressed .tar.gz, .tgz, .tar.bz2, and .tar.xz files, in your browser and lets you download the files inside. It's handy on Windows computers and phones that don't have a tar tool. Your files are never uploaded.

Price
Free
Uploads
None, it runs on your device
Sign-up
Not needed
Formats
TAR, GZ, BZ2, XZ
Folders
Kept when saving to a folder
Install
Nothing to install

How it works

How to open TAR files

  1. Add the TAR file

    Drop it onto the page or click to choose it. If it's password-protected, type the password when asked.

  2. Browse the contents

    Every file and folder inside is listed with its size, so you can find what you need.

  3. Save the files

    Download files one at a time, save everything to a folder (in Chrome and Edge on a computer), or download it all as one ZIP.

Good to know

About TAR files

  • A .tar file bundles files without compressing them. A .tar.gz or .tgz is the same bundle compressed with gzip, and .tar.bz2 and .tar.xz use other compressors.
  • Plain .gz, .bz2, and .xz files that hold a single file are supported too.
  • Unix file permissions aren't kept when files are saved from the browser.

FAQ

Questions, answered

Is the TAR extractor free?

Yes. It's completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark, and no limit on how many files you process. It costs Ethical Tube nothing to run, because the work happens on your own device rather than on a server.

Are my files uploaded anywhere?

No. Everything happens inside your browser, so your files never leave your device. Once the page has loaded, the tool even works offline.

Can it open password-protected TAR files?

No. The browser archive engine can't decrypt encrypted TAR files. Decrypt the archive in its original app first, then open it here.

Does it work on a phone or Chromebook?

Yes. It works in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari on computers, Chromebooks, iPhones, and Android phones, with nothing to install. On a phone, files are saved one at a time or as a ZIP.

Is there a size limit?

There's no upload limit because nothing is uploaded. The archive and its contents have to fit in your device's memory, so archives up to about 2 GB usually work on a computer.

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