How to Open a .gz File (Free, No Software to Install)
A .gz file is a single file compressed with gzip — commonly a server log, SQL database dump, JSON export, or CSV snapshot — and the fastest way to open one is to drop it onto the EasyExtract GZ extractor, which decompresses it in your browser with nothing to install. Most people land here because they received a .gz from a server, a colleague, or an automated backup and don’t have a decompression tool ready. This guide covers the browser method and the native OS commands.
What is a .gz file?
Gzip compresses one file at a time. That is the key difference from ZIP, which can bundle many files into one archive. A .gz file almost always holds a single file, and the original name is usually baked into the gzip header:
| .gz filename | What’s inside |
|---|---|
| access.log.gz | access.log |
| database.sql.gz | database.sql |
| data.json.gz | data.json |
| export.csv.gz | export.csv |
Important: a .tar.gz (or .tgz) is a different format. It first bundles multiple files into a tar archive, then gzip compresses that bundle. If your file ends in .tar.gz or .tgz, use the TAR extractor instead — it handles both steps.
How to open a .gz file online (step by step)
No install required. The decompression runs entirely in your browser using the browser’s built-in support — your file never leaves your device.
- Go to the EasyExtract GZ extractor.
- Drop your .gz file onto the page, or click to browse and select it.
- The file is decompressed instantly in your browser.
- The original filename is shown — recovered from the gzip header when present.
- Click Save file to download the decompressed result.
There is no size limit imposed by the tool itself; the practical ceiling is your device’s available memory.
Open your .gz file free →
Browser-based. No upload. Works on any OS.
How to open a .gz file on Windows, Mac, and Linux
If you prefer a desktop method, each platform has a built-in or readily available option.
Windows
Windows 11 (build 22000 and later) can open .gz files natively via File Explorer — right-click the file and choose Extract All. On Windows 10 or earlier, download 7-Zip (free), right-click the .gz file, and choose 7-Zip > Extract Here.
Mac
Double-click the .gz file in Finder. Archive Utility handles gzip natively and places the decompressed file in the same folder. From Terminal:
gunzip filename.gzLinux
Run either of these in the terminal:
gunzip filename.gz
# or
gzip -d filename.gzBoth produce the original file in the current directory and remove the .gz.
What about .tar.gz files?
A .tar.gz (also written .tgz) is not a simple gzip file. The tar utility first bundles a directory or multiple files into a single .tar archive; gzip then compresses that bundle. The GZ extractor will detect this situation and tell you — but to list and extract the individual files inside, use the TAR extractor, which handles the combined tar + gzip format in one step.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a .gz file?
Drop it onto the EasyExtract GZ extractor — your browser decompresses it instantly and you save the original file. No software needed. Alternatively, on Mac double-click it in Finder; on Linux run gunzip filename.gz in the terminal; on Windows use 7-Zip.
What is inside a .gz file?
A .gz file holds a single compressed file — usually a log, a SQL dump, a JSON or CSV export. The original filename is stored in the gzip header when it was created. A .tar.gz is different: it bundles multiple files with tar first, then compresses with gzip.
Can I open a .gz file without WinRAR or 7-Zip?
Yes. Use the EasyExtract GZ extractor in your browser — it decompresses the file using the browser’s own built-in support and saves the result. Nothing is installed and nothing is uploaded.
What is the difference between .gz and .tar.gz?
A .gz file compresses one file. A .tar.gz (also called .tgz) first bundles multiple files into a tar archive, then compresses that bundle with gzip. Use a TAR extractor for .tar.gz files.
Last updated: 2026-08-28.