TZST File

What are TZST files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a TZST 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 TZST files.

What is a TZST file?

A .TZST file is a ZStandard Compressed TAR file.

A ZStandard Compressed TAR file with the extension tzst is an archive that bundles together multiple files and directories into a single uncompressed TAR archive, and then compresses that archive using the Zstandard (zstd) compression algorithm. This format preserves folder structure, file metadata such as permissions and timestamps, and supports high-speed compression and decompression. It is often used for backups, software package distribution, or whenever multiple items need to be both grouped and compressed efficiently.

The file is produced by first running a tool (typically the tar utility on Unix-like systems) to create a .tar file containing the items to be archived, and then applying Zstandard compression to that .tar archive. Users open or extract tzst files by decompressing using a Zstandard-compatible tool, then unpacking the resulting TAR archive. WinRAR is known to be able to extract files from tzst archives.

Internally the file begins with a Zstandard frame magic number of 4 bytes: 28 B5 2F FD in hexadecimal (little-endian). That frame wraps the compressed data stream.

How to open TZST files

We have identified one TZST opener that is compatible with this specific type of TZST file.

Programs that open ZStandard Compressed TAR files

Last updated: August 13, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of TZST files. Remember, different programs may use TZST files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

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