Tips to open TGZ file

Can't open the TGZ file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open TGZ files as well as a list of programs that support TGZ files.

TGZ file extension

File Name Gzipped Tar Format
File Category Compressed Files

The TGZ file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the TGZ files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the TGZ file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is TGZ file?

A .TGZ file is an archive file in the TAR format, compressed with the GNU Zip compression. Sometimes such files are saved as .TAR.GZ. These files are commonly found on UNIX and LINUX systems, although they are increasingly found on other platforms today. There are also no problems opening this type of file in the archiver program. In this form, you can also find installation packages of operating systems, because the applied compression significantly reduces the size of such a package.

How to open TGZ file?

An often recurring problem with Gzipped Tar Format is that TGZ is not associated with the correct program file. Thus, when you open TGZ, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the TGZ file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install iArchiver

An often overlooked issue is to make sure that iArchiver is installed on the computer. This can be achieved by typing iArchiver into the operating system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file TGZ with iArchiver. Below you will find a list of applications that support TGZ files.

Programs to open TGZ file

Remember to download programs supporting TGZ files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.

Step 2. Create association of iArchiver with TGZ files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the TGZ file still does not use the iArchiver program, it means no association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Changes can be made using the "Change" button. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the iArchiver application as the default for handling the TGZ file.

Step 3. Update iArchiver to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the iArchiver program, it is possible that Gzipped Tar Format requires a newer version of the program.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the TGZ file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:

The TGZ file may be unusually small compared to the original file. This suggests truncating the TGZ file contents when downloading or copying. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file TGZ or the program directory. Sometimes virus-infected TGZ files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the TGZ file. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair TGZ file corruption.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted TGZ files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. It is best to move TGZ to a different directory.
This problem usually affects more complex files. In this case, the TGZ file is blocked by the first application to open it. Closing other programs should help. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file TGZ to close. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If the problem persists, restart the machine.