What Is a .bz2 File? .bz2 Format, MIME & How to Open

Quick facts

Extension.bz2

File typeBZIP2 Archive

MIME typeapplication/x-bzip2

CategoryArchive

Charset—

CompressibleNo

Format familybzip2

What is .bz2

What is a .bz2 file?

A .bz2 file is a BZIP2 Archive — bzip2-compressed file with high compression ratio.

In the mime-db registry it maps to application/x-bzip2, and it is marked as non-compressible. When serving .bz2 over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.

Related entities: it maps to application/x-bzip2 — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.

How to open .bz2 files

Use bzip2 or 7-Zip to open and edit .bz2 files.
Any text editor (Notepad, VS Code) can inspect the raw content as text.

Developer info

When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:

Content-Type: application/x-bzip2

Common software that reads/writes .bz2:

bzip27-Zip

Relation chain

.bz2extension of

format

bzip2served as

mime type

application/x-bzip2sent via header

http header

Related extensions

Related MIME types

Common uses

File distribution
Backup bundles
Software installation packages

How to edit .bz2 files

Open the file with bzip2, make your changes and save.
Most editors preserve the original formatting and encoding — avoid changing the charset.

How to create .bz2 files

Create a new file and save it with the .bz2 extension, or export this format from bzip2.

Frequently asked questions

What programs can open .bz2 files?

Common options include bzip2, 7-Zip. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.

How do I create a .bz2 file?

Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .bz2 extension.

What is the relationship between .bz2 and the application/x-bzip2 MIME type?

application/x-bzip2 is the media type identifier used for .bz2 files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).

Sources & standards

Updated 2026-09-13

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