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

Quick facts

Extension.tgz

File typeCompressed TAR Archive

MIME type—

CategoryArchive

Charset—

Compressible—

Format familytar

What is .tgz

What is a .tgz file?

A .tgz file is a Compressed TAR Archive — tar archive compressed with gzip.

In the mime-db registry it has no registered standard MIME type. When serving this file over HTTP, use a Content-Type that matches its actual format.

How to open .tgz files

Use tar or 7-Zip to open and edit .tgz 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:

# No standard MIME type is registered for .tgz

Common software that reads/writes .tgz:

tar7-Zip

Relation chain

.tgzextension of

format

tarserved as

mime type

—sent via header

http header

Related extensions

Compressed TAR Archive

Common uses

File distribution
Backup bundles
Software installation packages

How to edit .tgz files

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

How to create .tgz files

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

Frequently asked questions

What programs can open .tgz files?

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

How do I create a .tgz file?

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

Sources & standards

Updated 2026-08-18

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What is a .tgz file?

What programs can open .tgz files?

How do I create a .tgz file?

Related extensions

Related headers

Related methods

Related status codes