To open a GZ file in Windows, the most reliable option is the free 7-Zip app: right-click the file and choose 7-Zip > Extract Here. If it’s a .tar.gz (or .tgz) archive, recent versions of Windows 11 can open it directly in File Explorer, and both Windows 10 and 11 include a built-in tar command that extracts it. Which method you need depends on the exact file type.
.gz vs .tar.gz: what’s the difference?
- .gz is a single file compressed with gzip, such as log.txt.gz or data.csv.gz. Unpacking it gives you one file.
- .tar.gz or .tgz is a TAR archive (a bundle of many files and folders) that was then compressed with gzip. It’s common for software downloads and backups from Linux and macOS.
Method 1: Open any GZ file with 7-Zip
- Download 7-Zip from its official site, 7-zip.org, and install the 64-bit version.
- Right-click the .gz file. On Windows 11, select Show more options.
- Choose 7-Zip > Extract Here, or Extract files to pick a folder.
For a .tar.gz file, 7-Zip first gives you a .tar file. Right-click that .tar file and extract it again to get the actual files and folders.
Method 2: Open .tar.gz in Windows 11 File Explorer
Windows 11 added built-in support for more archive formats, including .tar.gz, .tgz, .7z, and .rar.
- Make sure Windows 11 is up to date in Settings > Windows Update.
- Double-click the archive to browse it like a folder, or right-click it and choose Extract All.
If File Explorer doesn’t recognize the file, especially a plain .gz that isn’t a TAR archive, use 7-Zip instead.
Method 3: Use the built-in tar command (Windows 10 and 11)
- Open the folder that contains the file in File Explorer.
- Click the address bar, type cmd, and press Enter to open Command Prompt there.
- Run
tar -xzf filename.tar.gz, replacing filename with your file’s name.
The files are extracted into the current folder. Add -C C:\Extracted to the end to put them in another folder that already exists. This works for .tar.gz and .tgz archives; for a single .gz file, use 7-Zip.
Method 4: Use WSL (for Linux users)
If you have the Windows Subsystem for Linux installed, open your Linux terminal, go to the folder, and run gunzip file.gz for a single file or tar -xzf file.tar.gz for an archive.
Troubleshooting
- “Can’t open file as archive”: the download may be incomplete. Download it again and compare the file size.
- The extracted file has no extension: gzip files often keep the original name minus .gz. Rename it with the right extension, such as .txt or .csv, if you know what it is.
- Windows says the file is unsafe: only extract archives from sources you trust, and scan them with Microsoft Defender first.
Frequently asked questions
Can I create a .gz file on Windows?
Yes. In 7-Zip, right-click a file and choose 7-Zip > Add to archive, then set the format to gzip. To create a .tar.gz from a folder, make a TAR archive first, then compress it with gzip.
Is 7-Zip safe?
Yes, when downloaded from 7-zip.org. Keep it updated, since older versions have had security fixes.
More archive guides: extracting files on Windows 11 and unzipping files on Windows 7.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.