Drop your file to analyze it

BZ2 File

What are BZ2 files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a BZ2 file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your BZ2 files.

What is a BZ2 file?

A .BZ2 file is a BZIP2 Compressed Archive file.

Files with the .bz2 file extension are compressed files that have been created by the Bzip2 file compression software. Bzip2 can be used to take large files and compress them into a smaller size for easier storage and distribution. The Bzip2 compression utility is usually found on Unix systems. It combines Run-Length Encoding and the Burrows-Wheeler compression algorithm to significantly reduce the size of a file.

Unlike many file compression utilities, Bzip2 cannot archive files. This means that only one file can be contained within each .bz2 file. If a user wants to compress multiple files into a single file archive, the Bzip2 application must be used along with another utility that is used for file archiving purposes, such as BitZipper.

How to open BZ2 files

We have identified five BZ2 openers that are compatible with this specific type of BZ2 file.

Programs that open BZIP2 Compressed Archive files

Bitberry File OpenerBitberry File OpenerVerified
WinZipWinZipVerified
7-Zip7-ZipVerified
WinRARWinRARVerified
Stuffit ExpanderStuffit ExpanderVerified

Last updated: February 24, 2023

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about BZ2 file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.