Convert a TAR Archive to ZIP
Turn a .tar archive into one ZIP that opens everywhere. Free, no upload, no account: the conversion runs in your browser, even with WiFi off.
Drop TAR files here
Checking this browser's capability…
How it works
- 1Drop the .tar file into the box
- 2The tool unpacks the archive in your browser
- 3The files and folders are repacked into a new ZIP
- 4Download the ZIP; the result shows size before and after
When to use this tool
Turn a TAR archive into one ZIP file that is easier to share.
A TAR bundles files without compressing them, so it shows up for source-code releases, Linux backups, and images written by docker save. A ZIP copy opens on any system without extra software.
What is a TAR file
TAR stands for tape archive. It joins many files and folder paths into one file for storage or transfer, and it stores each entry at its original size with no compression. That is why a .tar file is often far larger than the same files in a ZIP.
You will meet TAR as open-source project downloads, folder backups made on Linux or macOS, and container images saved with docker save. All of them convert the same way: the contents are unpacked and repacked into a ZIP.
Will the ZIP be smaller than the TAR
Usually yes, the opposite of RAR or 7Z conversions. Because TAR stores files uncompressed, a ZIP built with compression often takes less space than the source archive. Text and code shrink the most; photos, videos and already-compressed files barely shrink at all.
What to check before you start
This changes the package format, not the files inside. Documents keep their formats and folder paths stay nested. A few system-specific details a TAR can store, such as permissions, are not carried into the ZIP.
Keep the original archive until you have opened the ZIP and checked it. The tool works on a copy inside your browser, so you can convert again whenever you need.
When converting TAR is the wrong task
If you only need one or two files, Extract TAR lists the contents so you can download just those instead of building a whole new archive.
A converted ZIP is a sharing copy, not a restoration path. If the TAR is a system backup, a proper restore needs the original archive and the tools made for that system. Conversion also cannot repair an incomplete download.
Need a different result?
Have a .tar.gz or .tgz file instead? Use TAR.GZ to ZIP. Only want a single file out? Extract TAR. Packing files of your own? Zip Files does that in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a TAR file to ZIP?
Drop the .tar file on this page. The contents are unpacked and repacked into a ZIP in your browser, and the ZIP downloads when it is ready. Only need a file or two? Extract TAR saves just those. Free, no account, nothing uploaded.
Is a TAR file the same as a ZIP?
No. Both bundle files and folders into one file, but a TAR stores everything uncompressed while a ZIP compresses each entry. Converting gives you the package every system opens without changing the files inside.
Why is the ZIP smaller than my TAR?
A TAR adds files together with no compression, so a ZIP copy usually takes less space. Savings depend on the contents: plain text and code shrink a lot, while photos and videos are already compressed and barely change.
Can Windows open a TAR file?
Recent versions of Windows 11 and macOS handle .tar files, but older Windows, tablets and many web apps do not. ZIP opens everywhere with a double-click, so converting removes the compatibility question.
Does TAR to ZIP conversion work without internet?
Yes. Turn off your WiFi, this tool will still run 100% locally. After the page has loaded, the unpacking, repacking and saving all happen on your own computer, and the ZIP is saved straight to your downloads.
I saved a Docker image and got a .tar file. Can I convert it?
Yes. The archive converts like any other TAR and the image layers inside stay unchanged. Keep the original .tar for docker load, and use the ZIP as the copy you share.