Convert TAR.BZ2 to ZIP online and open bzip2 archives on any device without extra tools. Upload files up to 20GB and download the converted result in a few clicks.
Drag & Drop your TAR.BZ2 file here
TAR.BZ2 files, up to 20GB
Files stay private.
Automatically deleted after 24 hours.
Link
20GB upload limit.
4.8/5
Trusted for 1,827,796+ conversions
HOW IT WORKS
Three steps, no account, nothing to install.
01
Upload your TAR.BZ2 file
Drag in a .tar.bz2 archive, such as a source release, backup or data set.
02
Convert to ZIP
Start the conversion. The bzip2 stream is unpacked and every file is repacked into a ZIP with its folder structure.
03
Download the ZIP
Download the ZIP and open it on Windows, macOS, iPhone or Android without extra software.
TAR.BZ2
TAR.BZ2 is a tar archive compressed with bzip2, usually a little smaller than .tar.gz but slower to create and open.
ZIP
ZIP is the most compatible archive format, opened by Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and every archive tool.
FILE FORMATS
SOURCE
bzip2 appeared in 1996 and compresses text and source code better than gzip at the cost of speed. Tar archives compressed with it, .tar.bz2 or .tbz2, were the standard for Linux kernel and source releases for years and still turn up in scientific data sets and older software archives.
TARGET
Phil Katz introduced ZIP in 1989, and it is now built into every major operating system. A ZIP compresses each file separately, usually with Deflate, so you can open a single file without unpacking the rest. Compression is weaker than 7z or xz, but nothing beats ZIP for opening anywhere.
| Feature | TAR.BZ2 | ZIP |
|---|---|---|
| Developed by | GNU / Unix (bzip2) | PKWARE (Phil Katz) |
| File extension | .tar.bz2 | .zip |
| Compression | bzip2 (whole archive) | Deflate (per file) |
| Packs | Files, folders, Unix permissions | Files and folders |
| Opens without extra software | Linux, macOS, Windows 11 | Yes, Windows, macOS, phones |
| Best for | Older source and data releases | Sharing with anyone |
USE CASES
When a TAR.BZ2 archive needs to open on Windows or a phone.
Open an older source release on Windows
Many older projects published .tar.bz2 releases.
Get at a scientific data set
Research data is often shared as .tar.bz2. ZIP opens anywhere.
Share files with someone without 7-Zip
ZIP needs no extra software.
Upload to a ZIP-only portal
Many uploaders reject tar archives.
Open an archive on a phone
Phones unzip ZIP files natively.
Repack an old backup
Turn old Linux backups into ZIP for easy browsing.
Hand data to a Windows analyst
They can open the ZIP straight away.
Browse a dataset's files before downloading tools
Look inside quickly.
Move a project between operating systems
ZIP behaves the same everywhere.
Archive in the most compatible format
Keep a ZIP copy alongside the original.
SUPPORTED FILES
TAR.BZ2 archives of any common size are supported.
bzip2-compressed tar archives under either name.
Large scientific archives with many files and folders.
Folders and subfolders are recreated exactly inside the ZIP.
Nested archives are kept as files. Convert them separately if needed.
Each archive can be up to 20GB.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Tar and ZIP store different details, which explains most surprises.
01
ZIP compresses each file on its own, while TAR.BZ2 compresses the whole archive as one stream. ZIP is usually larger.
02
Links are a Unix feature that ZIP and Windows handle poorly. Recreate them after extracting if you need them.
03
Unix permissions don't always survive in a ZIP, especially once it's extracted on Windows. Run chmod +x on the script after extracting.
04
Older unzip tools can misread non-English file names. Use a current version of 7-Zip, The Unarchiver or your system's built-in extractor.
05
A cut-off download can't be unpacked completely. Download the archive again and check its checksum if one is published.
06
Check that the file really is the format its name says. A renamed file won't unpack.
7-Zip, WinRAR, Keka and The Unarchiver can unpack and repack archives once installed. dragdropdo converts TAR.BZ2 to ZIP in the browser, on any device.
| What matters | dragdropdo | 7-Zip and Desktop Archivers |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing to install | ✓Yes. Runs in any modern browser. | ~Yes, a download, unless your system already reads the format. |
| Works on phones and tablets | ✓Yes. Desktop, Android, iPhone and iPad. | ~Phone apps open archives but rarely repack them. |
| Batch conversion | ✓Yes. Add many files and download one ZIP. | ~7-Zip can with the command line. |
| Share finished files | ✓Yes. Send a unique link from the result page. | ~You upload and share the files yourself. |
| Pricing | ✓Free with daily limits. $2.99 or $6.99 passes for unlimited use, no monthly plan. | ~Free (7-Zip, Keka) to paid (WinRAR). |
| Password-protecting the archive | ✓Not in the converter. | ~Yes. 7-Zip and WinRAR can encrypt archives. |
Other tools use different pricing, limits and workflows. This comparison describes dragdropdo's own features without assuming every other tool works the same way.
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Auto-delete in 24h
WHY DRAGDROPDO
Convert TAR.BZ2 to ZIP in your browser, with nothing to install and nothing kept after 24 hours.
Private by default
Files are encrypted in transit and deleted from our servers automatically after 24 hours.
No install required
Convert in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone or iPad. No app and no sign-up wall.
Big files and batches
Upload files up to 20GB each, add several at once, and download the results one by one or as a ZIP.
Share & download
Save finished files to your device or pass them on with a share link from the result page.
FAQ
Answers to common questions about dragdropdo's TAR.BZ2 to ZIP converter.
