What is a TAR.XZ file?
TAR.XZ (XZ-compressed TAR Archive) is a TAR archive compressed with XZ, which gives some of the smallest files of any common format. It was introduced in 2009 by Lasse Collin (XZ Utils).
What TAR.XZ is good at
- Very strong compression
- Keeps Unix permissions
- Used by many Linux distributions
Where TAR.XZ falls short
- Slow to compress
- Needs more memory
When to use TAR.XZ
- Distributing Linux software
- Long-term backups
- Large archives where size matters
Where TAR.XZ files open
TAR.XZ files open in Linux, macOS, 7-Zip and WinRAR.
TAR.XZ compared with ZIP
TAR.XZ or ZIP? TAR.XZ is best for distributing Linux software. ZIP is best for emailing several files at once. Convert TAR.XZ to ZIP or convert ZIP to TAR.XZ.
Frequently asked questions
What is a TAR.XZ file?
TAR.XZ (XZ-compressed TAR Archive) is a TAR archive compressed with XZ, which gives some of the smallest files of any common format. It was introduced in 2009 by Lasse Collin (XZ Utils).
What are the advantages of TAR.XZ?
Very strong compression; keeps unix permissions; used by many linux distributions.
What are the drawbacks of TAR.XZ?
Slow to compress; needs more memory.
What programs open TAR.XZ files?
TAR.XZ files open in Linux, macOS, 7-Zip and WinRAR.
How do I convert a TAR.XZ file?
Choose the TAR.XZ converter you need from the list on this page, drop in your file and press Convert. You get your new file in seconds, free and without sign-up.