What quality should I expect from the TAR output?

Our converter preserves as much fidelity as Tar Archive allows. Where Gzipped Tar Archive carries information that Tar Archive cannot represent, that information is mapped to the closest equivalent (for example, color spaces, codec parameters, or metadata fields). For most everyday uses the result is indistinguishable from the source.

Are my filenames, folder structure, and timestamps preserved in the TAR archive?

Yes. The directory structure, filenames (including Unicode characters), and modification timestamps are carried over from your Gzipped Tar Archive archive into the Tar Archive output. File permissions are preserved when both formats support them. The result is a functionally equivalent archive — just in a different container, ready to extract on systems that prefer TAR.

What file size should I expect for the TAR output?

The output size depends on the content and the compression characteristics of Tar Archive. In most cases the TAR file will be in the same ballpark as your TAR.GZ input, with differences driven by how each format encodes data. There is no fixed ratio — the converter does not change quality settings unless you ask it to.

When should I convert TAR.GZ to TAR instead of staying with TAR.GZ?

Convert when the application, device, or workflow you are targeting prefers Tar Archive over Gzipped Tar Archive. If your current TAR.GZ file already opens and behaves correctly everywhere you need it to, there is no benefit to converting — keep the original. The most common reasons to switch are compatibility (a tool only accepts TAR), distribution (recipients expect TAR), or feature requirements specific to Tar Archive.

What is the maximum TAR.GZ file size I can convert?

MegaConvert accepts TAR.GZ files up to 100 MB on the free service, which is enough for the vast majority of real-world Gzipped Tar Archive files. If you have a larger file (typical for high-resolution video or uncompressed audio), please contact us — we can sometimes accommodate larger uploads for legitimate use cases.

Is my TAR.GZ file safe and private when I upload it?

Yes. Your TAR.GZ file is uploaded over HTTPS, processed in an isolated job environment, and deleted from our servers within one hour. We do not read, index, store, or share the contents of your file. No account is required, so the upload is not associated with a personal identity. See our privacy policy for the full details.

Convert TAR.GZ to TAR

Free online TAR.GZ to TAR converter. No signup required.

Drag & drop your file here

or click to browse

Max file size: 100 MB

Why Convert TAR.GZ to TAR?

Understand when and why this conversion makes sense for your workflow.

Converting Gzipped Tar Archive to Tar Archive helps resolve compatibility issues when sharing compressed files across different operating systems and software environments. Archive formats vary in their compression algorithms, split archive support, password protection, and native tool availability. What opens effortlessly on one system may require third-party software on another, making format conversion an important step when collaborating across platforms.

Gzipped Tar Archive has a known limitation: cannot extract individual files without decompressing the entire archive. In contrast, Tar Archive offers a key advantage: preserves Unix file permissions, ownership, symbolic links, and timestamps. While Gzipped Tar Archive is commonly used for linux and unix source code and software distribution, Tar Archive is better suited for linux and unix software distribution and source code packaging.

MegaConvert repackages your TAR.GZ archive into TAR format reliably, ensuring recipients on any platform can extract the contents without compatibility issues.

TAR.GZ vs TAR: Format Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of the source and target formats.

Property	TAR.GZ (Source)	TAR (Target)
Extension	.tar.gz	.tar
Full Name	Gzipped Tar Archive	Tar Archive
Compression	Varies	Lossless
File Size	Varies	Varies
Best For	Linux and Unix source code and software distr…	Linux and Unix software distribution and sour…
Browser Support	Varies	Varies

How to Convert TAR.GZ to TAR

Follow these simple steps to convert your file in seconds.

Upload your TAR.GZ archive
Drop your .tar.gz file or browse to select it. Archives up to 100 MB are supported — that is the size of the archive itself, not the size of its contents after extraction. Password-protected archives cannot be repackaged unless the password is supplied alongside the upload.
Click "Convert to TAR"
Start the conversion. We extract the contents of your Gzipped Tar Archive archive into temporary storage, then re-pack everything into Tar Archive using sensible compression defaults. Folder structure, filenames, and timestamps are preserved.
Wait for the conversion to complete
The conversion usually takes just a few seconds. The progress bar updates in real time while your Gzipped Tar Archive file is processed and the new Tar Archive file is generated.
Download your .tar file
When the conversion finishes, click the download link to save the new Tar Archive file to your computer. The file is yours — no watermarks, no expiration on the file itself, and no MegaConvert account is required to download it.

Tips for Converting TAR.GZ to TAR

Practical advice to get the best results from this conversion.

Why this conversion is worth doing

Gzipped Tar Archive has a known limitation: cannot extract individual files without decompressing the entire archive. Tar Archive addresses this with a key advantage: preserves Unix file permissions, ownership, symbolic links, and timestamps. Converting from TAR.GZ to TAR is most worthwhile when this specific trade-off matters for the way you intend to use the file.

Match the format to the actual workflow

Gzipped Tar Archive is most commonly used for linux and unix source code and software distribution, while Tar Archive is the standard for linux and unix software distribution and source code packaging. If your workflow is closer to the second pattern, converting makes sense. If you are still working in a context where TAR.GZ is the norm, converting may create unnecessary compatibility friction with collaborators or tools that expect the source format.

Watch for this limitation in the TAR output

Tar Archive has its own limitation worth understanding before you commit: no built-in compression; must be combined with a separate compression tool. After the conversion completes, open the TAR file and verify that this limitation does not affect your specific use case — for some workflows it is irrelevant; for others it can be a deal-breaker.

Check native tool availability for your target format

ZIP is natively supported on Windows, macOS, and Linux without any additional software. 7Z offers better compression but requires 7-Zip or equivalent software. RAR requires WinRAR or a compatible extractor. If you're sharing with non-technical users, ZIP is the safest format to maximize compatibility.

Understanding TAR.GZ and TAR Formats

Learn about the source and target file formats to understand what happens during conversion.

Source Format

Gzipped Tar Archive

application/gzip

TAR.GZ (also written as .tgz) combines the TAR archival format with gzip compression, creating a compressed archive of multiple files and directories. This two-step process first bundles files into a TAR archive preserving Unix permissions and structure, then compresses the result with gzip. TAR.GZ is the most common archive format on Unix and Linux systems.

Advantages

Standard archive format on Unix/Linux with universal tool support
Preserves Unix file permissions, ownership, and symbolic links
Good balance of compression speed and ratio for general use

Limitations

Cannot extract individual files without decompressing the entire archive
Less efficient compression than tar.bz2 or tar.xz
Not natively supported in Windows without third-party tools

Common Uses

Linux and Unix source code and software distribution
System administration backup archives
Open-source project release packaging

Target Format

Tar Archive

application/x-tar

TAR (Tape Archive) is a Unix archive format that bundles multiple files and directories into a single file while preserving file permissions, ownership, timestamps, and symbolic links. TAR itself performs no compression; it is purely an archival format. TAR is almost always used in combination with a compression tool like gzip, bzip2, or xz to create compressed archives.

Advantages

Preserves Unix file permissions, ownership, symbolic links, and timestamps
Standard archival format on all Unix and Linux systems
Extremely simple and reliable format with decades of proven use

Limitations

No built-in compression; must be combined with a separate compression tool
No random access to individual files without reading the entire archive
No built-in encryption or password protection

Common Uses

Linux and Unix software distribution and source code packaging
System backup and file archival on Unix platforms
Bundling files before applying compression with gzip, bzip2, or xz

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about converting TAR.GZ to TAR.

Related Conversions

Explore other conversions related to TAR.GZ and TAR.

Other conversions from TAR.GZ

TAR.GZ to ZIP TAR.GZ to GZ TAR.GZ to BZ2 TAR.GZ to XZ TAR.GZ to 7Z TAR.GZ to TAR.BZ2 TAR.GZ to TAR.XZ

Other conversions to TAR

ZIP to TAR GZ to TAR BZ2 to TAR XZ to TAR 7Z to TAR TAR.BZ2 to TAR TAR.XZ to TAR

Convert TAR.GZ to TAR

Why Convert TAR.GZ to TAR?

TAR.GZ vs TAR: Format Comparison

How to Convert TAR.GZ to TAR

Upload your TAR.GZ archive

Click "Convert to TAR"

Wait for the conversion to complete

Download your .tar file

Tips for Converting TAR.GZ to TAR

Why this conversion is worth doing

Match the format to the actual workflow

Watch for this limitation in the TAR output

Check native tool availability for your target format

Understanding TAR.GZ and TAR Formats

Gzipped Tar Archive

Advantages

Limitations

Common Uses

Tar Archive

Advantages

Limitations

Common Uses

Frequently Asked Questions

What quality should I expect from the TAR output?

Are my filenames, folder structure, and timestamps preserved in the TAR archive?

What file size should I expect for the TAR output?

When should I convert TAR.GZ to TAR instead of staying with TAR.GZ?

What is the maximum TAR.GZ file size I can convert?

Is my TAR.GZ file safe and private when I upload it?

Related Conversions

Other conversions from TAR.GZ

Other conversions to TAR