---
title: ".bz2 file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .bz2 file is a Bzip2 Compressed File. A compressed single file, slower than gzip but usually smaller. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/bz2/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .bz2 files

**.bz2 file: Bzip2 Compressed File**

A compressed single file, slower than gzip but usually smaller.

## What opens a .bz2 file

- **Windows:** File Explorer (built in, Windows 11), 7-Zip, WinRAR
- **macOS:** Archive Utility (built in), Keka, bunzip2 (Terminal)
- **Linux:** Archive Manager / File Roller (built in), Ark, bunzip2

## What a .bz2 file is

Bzip2 uses the Burrows-Wheeler transform to squeeze harder than gzip at the cost of speed, and like gzip it compresses one file only, so it normally appears as .tar.bz2. Its use has faded in favour of xz and zstd, but it is still common in older Linux source archives. Windows 11 File Explorer, 7-Zip, Keka and every Linux archive manager handle it.

## Converting it

A .bz2 file is commonly converted to .zip, .7z, .gz or .xz. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.

## Details

- **Extension:** .bz2
- **Full name:** Bzip2 Compressed File
- **Category:** Archives
- **MIME type:** application/x-bzip2
- **Created by:** Julian Seward
- **Format:** Binary

## Common questions

### How do I open a .bz2 file?

On Windows use File Explorer (built in, Windows 11); on macOS use Archive Utility (built in); on Linux use Archive Manager / File Roller (built in). A compressed single file, slower than gzip but usually smaller.

### What is a .bz2 file?

Bzip2 Compressed File. Bzip2 uses the Burrows-Wheeler transform to squeeze harder than gzip at the cost of speed, and like gzip it compresses one file only, so it normally appears as .tar.bz2. Its use has faded in favour of xz and zstd, but it is still common in older Linux source archives.

### Can I convert a .bz2 file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .zip, .7z, .gz or .xz, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.zip — ZIP Archive](https://atoneplace.net/file/zip/)
- [.rar — RAR Archive](https://atoneplace.net/file/rar/)
- [.7z — 7-Zip Archive](https://atoneplace.net/file/7z/)
- [.gz — Gzip Compressed File](https://atoneplace.net/file/gz/)
- [.tar — Tape Archive](https://atoneplace.net/file/tar/)
- [.tgz — Gzipped Tar Archive](https://atoneplace.net/file/tgz/)
- [.xz — XZ Compressed File](https://atoneplace.net/file/xz/)
- [.sfx — Self-Extracting Archive Module](https://atoneplace.net/file/sfx/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)