How to Unzip a GZ File on Any Platform: 7 Easy Methods

how to unzip gz

These tools, such as File Roller and Ark, harness the power of the Graphical User Interface (GUI) to simplify the extraction process without the need for command-line inputs. Considering file sizes and usage, we often use gzip for speed and bzip2 when space is premium. Using flags like gzip -d or gzip -dk ensures we keep or remove the original archive file post-decompression. The gzip command is used to compress files, while the gunzip command is its counterpart for decompression. These tools are integral to many systems and provide robust, fast compression. On different operating systems, the methods can vary slightly.

It’s essential to focus on reducing file size while maintaining easy accessibility. We can use the -c flag to make the Gzip command usage more flexible. For example, we can use how to earn free bitcoin it to change the directory the new compressed file will be saved to and to change its name. Tar and Gzip utilities are often used together to create compressed TGZ/TAR.GZ files, which will be helpful in moving your data between systems efficiently.

Some distros also have blockchain iot market worth $2409 million by 2026 built-in options in the context menu to unzip .GZ files. This time, we can see that gzip has deleted the archive file after extracting the original file. To retain the archive file, we need to use the -k (keep) option again, as well as the -d (decompress) option. To decompress (or unzip) a GZ archive file, use the -d (decompress) option. This will extract the compressed file from the archive and decompress it so that it is indistinguishable from the original file.

How to Zip and Unzip Files With Gzip on Linux

how to unzip gz

It’s important to remember that the gunzip command operates on single files. So, no need to fret about handling multiple files at once. Much like a ZIP file, the GZ file format is used for file compression. And with the GZ file extension, it’s possible to store single files. By defualt after unzipping the gz file the gz file is deleted automatically.

You can only wring so much compression out of any given file and in this case, that limit was reached with level 6 compression. Cranking it up to 9 brought no further reduction in filesize. With bigger files, the difference between level 6 and level 9 would be more pronounced. You can choose to prioritize the speed of creation of the archive or the degree of compression. You do this by providing a number as an option, from -1 through top -9.

  1. As we have seen over the course of this article, xz files are nothing special.
  2. Below we will learn how to unzip TAR.GZ files from the command line using different flags.
  3. In case you’re a graphical user interface person, you can use a free third-party app to access your GZ archives.
  4. Maximizing efficiency and storage starts with understanding the optimal ways to compress files and keep them organized.

Whether we’re on Linux Mint, macOS, or even pivoting into the realm of Unix, extracting these files is straightforward. Unlike the windows in our homes, Windows OS requires an extra tool—oh, the irony. When unzipping .gz files in Linux, graphical tools provide an easy-to-use interface.

Customizing Compression with Gzip Options

Remember, tar combined with gzip (tar -czvf file.tar.gz dir) efficiently groups multiple files before compressing. Before creating a Tar archive compressed by Gzip, we need to understand what files we need to include and how we will group them together. Then, we can specify the files manually or create an archive of a whole can the bitcoin protocol morph into virtual collective consciousness directory and its subdirectories if there are any.

What is a Tarball or Tarfile?

If you’re coming across one for the first time, use one of the methods above to extract the contents from your GZ archive. The above methods work on all the popular platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. The -r (recursive) option causes gzip to compress the files in an entire directory tree.

Keep Unzipped gz File

You can do this from any Finder window on your Mac, and your extracted files will be available in a new folder in the same directory as the original GZ archive. Alternatively, you can use 7zip’s context menu tools on Windows to unzip a .GZ files. Be sure to select this option during installation, and then you’ll be a right-click away from opening GZ files with 7zip. The original file, a spreadsheet called “calc-sheet.ods” is 11 KB,  and the compressed file—also known as an archive file—is 9.3 KB.