How to Extract .TGZ on Windows

By Kristen Waters

Updated September 28, 2017

The ".tgz" file extension represents a set of files archived with the Tar archive utility and compressed using the Gzip compression utility. The Tar and Gzip utilities are native to the Linux and Unix operating systems; there is no native Windows utility that will extract ".tgz" file. The Gzip developers recommend using the 7-Zip, Winzip or PowerArchiver programs to extract .tgz files on a Windows computer. 7-Zip is completely free, while WinZip offers a free trial and PowerArchiver must be purchased.

7-Zip

Download and install 7-Zip from the developer's website. Navigate to the ".tgz" file using the Windows Explorer file browser.

Right-click on the ".tgz" file. Highlight the "7-Zip" option.

Click the "Extract Here" option. The file extracts to the current directory.

WinZip

Download and install the WinZip software program. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the ".tgz" file.

Right-click on the ".tgz" file. Highlight the "WinZip" option.

Click "Extract to Here." WinZip extracts the file to the current directory.

PowerArchiver

Download and install the PowerArchiver program. Launch PowerArchiver.

Click the "Open" button in the toolbar at the top of the screen.

Click the ".tgz" file in the file browser that appears. Click "Open" to extract the file.

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