.xz files
.xz file
XZ Compressed File
LZMA2 compression — the tightest of the common Unix single-file compressors.
What opens a .xz file
- Windows
- File Explorer (built in, Windows 11), 7-Zip, PeaZip
- macOS
- Keka, The Unarchiver, xz (Terminal)
- Linux
- Archive Manager / File Roller (built in), Ark, xz
What a .xz file is
XZ wraps the same LZMA2 algorithm 7-Zip uses, and it has become the default for Linux kernel and distribution source tarballs because it compresses best. Like gzip and bzip2 it handles one file, so .tar.xz is the usual pairing. Windows 11 extracts it natively now; older Windows needs 7-Zip.
Converting it
A .xz file is commonly converted to .zip, .7z, .gz or .tar. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.
Details
- Extension
- .xz
- Full name
- XZ Compressed File
- Category
- Archives
- MIME type
- application/x-xz
- Created by
- Tukaani Project
- Format
- Binary
Common questions
- How do I open a .xz file?
- On Windows use File Explorer (built in, Windows 11); on macOS use Keka; on Linux use Archive Manager / File Roller (built in). LZMA2 compression — the tightest of the common Unix single-file compressors.
- What is a .xz file?
- XZ Compressed File. XZ wraps the same LZMA2 algorithm 7-Zip uses, and it has become the default for Linux kernel and distribution source tarballs because it compresses best. Like gzip and bzip2 it handles one file, so .tar.xz is the usual pairing.
- Can I convert a .xz file?
- Yes. It is usually converted to .zip, .7z, .gz or .tar, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.
Related pages
- .zip — ZIP Archive The universal compressed folder — every operating system opens one with no extra
- .rar — RAR Archive A proprietary archive format with better compression than ZIP and strong recover
- .7z — 7-Zip Archive The open, high-compression archive format from 7-Zip, with proper AES-256 encryp
- .gz — Gzip Compressed File A single compressed file — it holds no folder structure of its own.
- .tar — Tape Archive A Unix bundle of files with no compression at all — usually paired with gzip.
- .tgz — Gzipped Tar Archive Shorthand for .tar.gz — a tar bundle compressed with gzip.
- .bz2 — Bzip2 Compressed File A compressed single file, slower than gzip but usually smaller.
- .sfx — Self-Extracting Archive Module The stub program archivers glue onto an archive to make it extract itself.
Sources
- Media Types Registry — IANA
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place