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GZ File - What is a .gz file and how do I open it?
Learn about .GZ files and view a list of programs that open them.
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Overview
What is a GZ file? A GZ file is an archive file compressed by the standard GNU zip (gzip) compression algorithm. It typically contains a single compressed file but may also store multiple compressed files. gzip is primarily used on Unix operating systems for file compression.
More Information GZ file open in 7-Zip 19 Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler initially developed the Gzip format and released the gzip program on October 31, 1992. Today, the format and program are still used in Unix systems to reduce file sizes for transportation or storage purposes. Also, GNU Project now develops gzip. GZ files often store .TAR archives that contain multiple files, such as video, image, audio, and backup files. TAR files compressed with gzip compression typically have a .tar.gz or .tgz file extension and are known as "tarballs." You must first decompress these files then expand them with a TAR utility.
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DeveloperThe GNU Project
Popularity3.7 | 549 Votes
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.GZ File Extension
Gnu Zipped Archive
| Developer | The GNU Project |
| Popularity |
3.7 | 549 Votes |
What is a GZ file?
A GZ file is an archive file compressed by the standard GNU zip (gzip) compression algorithm. It typically contains a single compressed file but may also store multiple compressed files. gzip is primarily used on Unix operating systems for file compression.
More Information
GZ file open in 7-Zip 19
Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler initially developed the Gzip format and released the gzip program on October 31, 1992. Today, the format and program are still used in Unix systems to reduce file sizes for transportation or storage purposes. Also, GNU Project now develops gzip.
GZ files often store .TAR archives that contain multiple files, such as video, image, audio, and backup files. TAR files compressed with gzip compression typically have a .tar.gz or .tgz file extension and are known as "tarballs." You must first decompress these files then expand them with a TAR utility.
How to open a GZ file
You can open GZ files with the GNU zip (gzip) compression utility. You can also decompress GZ files and extract their files with other decompression utilities, such as Corel WinZip (Windows and macOS), Smith Micro Stuffit Deluxe (Windows and macOS), 7-Zip (Windows), and Apple Archive Utility (bundled with macOS).
Open and view .GZ files with File Viewer Plus . Free Download
Programs that open GZ files
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Program Name
Platform
Reset
X
Windows
File Viewer Plus
—
Get it from Microsoft
Free +
Smith Micro StuffIt Deluxe
—
Discontinued
Paid
Corel WinZip
Free Trial
RARLAB WinRAR
Free Trial
7-Zip
Free
PeaZip
Free
Mac
Apple Archive Utility
Included with OS
Smith Micro StuffIt Deluxe Mac 16
—
Discontinued
Paid
Corel WinZip Mac
Free Trial
Incredible Bee Archiver
Paid
Linux
gzip
Free
Xarchive
Free
Ark
Free
PeaZip
Free
Web
123apps Archive Extractor
Free
Android
File Viewer for Android
Free +
RARLAB RAR
Free +
Category: Compressed Files
Updated: March 7, 2022