Open GZ files

  • Full name
    GZIP Compressed Archive Format
  • Developer
    The GNU Project
  • Popularity
Have you encountered a problem with a GZ file? Don’t you know which program opens a file with this extension? You will find all the information you need about working with a GZ file here. In the further part of this page we have added a list of programs that should open your GZ file. It is enough you choose a proper application for your operating system, download and install it.

What is GZ file?

GZ is the file extension for gzip compressed files. Gzip stands for GNU zip, which is a free compression method based on the Deflate algorithm. GZ files should not be confused with zip archives. Gzip is part of almost every standard installation of Linux systems, but has no meaning on Windows and Mac OSX.

More info

Gzip archives can in principle contain only a single file, but this can be circumvented by first combining the files with tar into a tarball and then packing them with gzip. These are usually recognized by the double ending .Tar.Gz or simply .Tgz.

GZ archives can be unpacked by just about any packer, be it Linux, Windows or Mac. This also applies to tgz files.

Programs which can open a GZ file

How to open file with GZ extension?

In order to open a file with GZ extension one of the following programs must be installed on user’s system. If a problem with opening GZ file occurred, it is highly possible that none of the listed programs is present on user’s system. Even if one or more said programs are installed, there may be issues related with given programs. In order to solve a problem with GZ files, follow the instructions below.
1
Install iArchiver or other program from the list

Most often resolving problems with opening GZ files is very simple. Just install an appropriate program that supports such files. All of the listed programs support GZ files, but may vary in offered function and purpose. Some programs may be capable only of viewing contents of GZ files or offer file conversion options, but may not be capable of editing such files.

Set iArchiver as the default program for opening GZ files

It is possible that although a compatible program has been installed on user’s system, it is not used by the system to open it. This may happen because no default application was associated with this type of files. To associate GZ files with given application, select "Open with" from drop-down menu (accessed by right-clicking on the file). Then select from the list the program or application you want to be used to open this type of file. If the iArchiver applications is not on the list, select "Browse" option in order to manually locate the directory where iArchiver has been installed.

2
3
Check the section that lists most common problems with GZ files

Sometimes problems with opening GZ files may not lie with the application itself, but can arise due to other causes, such as:

  • File data is corrupted
  • GZ files has been not been completely download from the internet (only a part of the data has been downloaded)
  • Currently used user account hasn’t been granted necessary privileges to open GZ files (should that be the case, please contact your system administrator or IT specialist)
  • GZ file was being copied from a corrupted storage device and is incomplete or data is corrupted. (Copying files from unknown or untrusted sources should be conducted with great care as such files may contain malicious software, which can damage your system)

Similar extensions