GZ File Type

- The quick facts

What are GZ files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a GZ file or just wondering what they contain? We explain what these files are used for and show you software that we know can open or otherwise handle your files.

What is a GZ file?

A .GZ file is a GZip Compressed Data file.

The .gz file extension is given to Gnu Zipped file archives. The Gnu Project developed this file format for use on Unix operating systems to compress large files. For example, if you have a file that you would like to send via email, the GZ file format would allow you to compress it into a much smaller file.

GZ archive files are compressed using the GNU (Gzip) compression algorithm. The .gz files can contain one file only. If you want to include multiple files in a GZ file, you first need to "combine" them using an archive tool like TAR. That will create a .tar.gz or .tgz file.

You can open GZ files on both Mac and Windows operating systems. You can also open them on computers that are running Linux.

How to open GZ files

We have identified 6 GZ openers that are compatible with this specific type of GZ file.

Programs that open GZip Compressed Data files

Last updated: March 17, 2022

Suggest another file format using extension GZ

While we know of one file format using the .GZ file extension, there may be more. It is widespread that different programs use files with the same file extension for very different types of data. Please let us know if you are aware of a different kind of .GZ file.