Unpack Files from a TAR Archive
Open a TAR file and save the files and folders inside. Free to use, no account needed. Files never leave your device.
Drop TAR files here
Checking this browser's capability…
How it works
- 1Drop the .tar file into the box.
- 2The archive is unpacked right in your browser.
- 3Browse the extracted files and see their sizes.
- 4Download individual files or grab them all at once.
When to use this tool
Open a TAR file and save the files and folders inside.
A TAR groups files together. Choose a file ending in .tar, browse the list, and download what you need.
What to check before you start
This page is for plain .tar files. A file ending in .tar.gz or .tgz needs the compressed TAR tool.
Keep your original files until you have opened the downloaded result and checked it. The tool works on a copy, so you can start again if you need different settings.
Example: retrieve a file from a source-code bundle
A TAR can hold a project with several nested folders. Look at the path in the file list to distinguish the file you want from a similarly named file in another folder. Save the required item and open it in an appropriate editor. Keep the original package when you may need the rest of the project or its original system information later.
Why extracting is different from restoring a system
A browser download retrieves file contents; it is not a full restoration of a Unix filesystem. Special entries, links and permission settings may not be recreated as they would be by a desktop archive tool. If the TAR is a system backup that must preserve those details, use a restoration method suited to that system rather than treating downloaded items as a complete replacement.
Separate retrieving files from restoring their original system
A TAR stores file contents and paths together. That makes it useful for moving source code or collections between systems, but a browser extraction is focused on retrieving readable file data. A path such as project/docs/readme.txt helps you identify the document in its folder context. It does not mean the browser has restored every setting the source system associated with it. Executable permissions, special entries and links may require a different restoration process. For ordinary document retrieval, inspect the saved file itself. For a working system or software installation, keep the original TAR and follow instructions written for the environment where it will be restored.
Need a different result?
Have a .tar.gz or .tgz file? Use Extract TAR.GZ. To pack the saved files into a ZIP, use Zip Files.
Frequently asked questions
Is TAR the same as ZIP?
Both group files together, but they are different formats. A plain TAR bundles files without necessarily making their contents smaller.
Why will my .tar.gz file not open on this page?
It has an extra compression layer. Use Extract TAR.GZ for .tar.gz or .tgz files.
Can I download only selected TAR contents?
Browse the listed files and download the ones you need. Keep the source TAR until you have checked them.
Can this repair an incomplete TAR download?
No. Download the archive again if data is missing or the file cannot be read.
Why does an extracted script not run immediately?
Retrieving a script does not install its dependencies or recreate its execution permissions. It may also belong to a project that expects other files in particular places. Read the project instructions and use the correct environment for that script. Only run code from a source you trust; a successful extraction says nothing about what running the code will do.