Convert TGZ to ZIP online and open Linux archives on Windows, Mac and phones. Upload files up to 20GB and download the converted result in a few clicks.
Drag & Drop your TGZ file here
TGZ 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 TGZ file
Drag in a .tgz archive, such as a source release, backup or data set.
02
Convert to ZIP
Start the conversion. The gzip 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.
TGZ
TGZ is a gzip-compressed tar archive with a shortened extension, identical in content to .tar.gz.
ZIP
ZIP is the most compatible archive format, opened by Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and every archive tool.
FILE FORMATS
SOURCE
A .tgz file is exactly a .tar.gz with a three-letter extension, a habit from systems that couldn't handle double extensions. You see it in Slackware packages, npm package tarballs, some firmware and backup tools. It keeps folders and Unix permissions, and compresses the whole archive as a single gzip stream.
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 | TGZ | ZIP |
|---|---|---|
| Developed by | GNU / Unix | PKWARE (Phil Katz) |
| File extension | .tgz | .zip |
| Compression | gzip (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 | Packages and backups | Sharing with anyone |
USE CASES
When a TGZ archive needs to open on Windows or a phone.
Open a Linux package on Windows
Get the files from a .tgz download without installing extra tools.
Share a server backup with a Windows colleague
Hand over a ZIP they can open straight away.
Inspect an npm package tarball
npm packs packages as .tgz. A ZIP lets you browse the files anywhere.
Open a firmware or plugin bundle
Some device and plugin downloads ship as .tgz.
Upload to a tool that only takes ZIP
Many web uploaders accept ZIP but not tar archives.
Open an archive on a phone
iPhone and Android unzip ZIP files natively.
Send source code to a client
Clients on Windows open ZIP without help.
Repackage a Slackware or old Unix package
Get at the files in older .tgz packages.
Move data between systems
ZIP works the same on every operating system.
Check what's in a log bundle
Support log bundles are often .tgz.
SUPPORTED FILES
TGZ archives of any common size are supported.
gzip-compressed tar archives with the short extension.
Exactly the same format, so it converts the same way.
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 TGZ 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 TGZ 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.
1.8M+
Files converted
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Average rating
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Files kept
Auto-delete in 24h
WHY DRAGDROPDO
Convert TGZ 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 TGZ to ZIP converter.
