GZ File Extension

An Introduction To GZ File Extension With Steps To Open It

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Since you’re here, you must’ve seen a GZ File Extension on your system or device. If you’re not familiar with the GZ file extension, this article will assist you in understanding what is a GZ file and how to open GZ file. So, let’s begin.

Brief Introduction To GZ File Extension

Contents

A .GZ file is a ZIP archive that compresses itself using the GNU zip (gzip) format. Moreover. it usually comprises single or multiple files and the Unix operating systems are often used for such file compressions.

GZ files are mainly associated with Gzip format by GNU project. Additionally, the GZ File Extension was only meant for Linux and Unix platforms and this format uses the GNU Zip algorithm for its compression procedure.

History: The GZIP compression algorithm and the GZ file itself was possible because of Mark Adler and Jean-loup Gaillyand in 1992. This algorithm actually was for Linux and Unix systems. However, the Windows OS is now also compatible with it. 

Features: The GZIP technology helps users to compress single or multiple files and folders together in a GZ archive. 

Availability: The .GZ file is extractable using the decompression utility available for different platforms.

  • Developer: The GNU Project
  • Category: Compressed Files
  • Format: Binary

How To Open a GZ File Extension?

After discovering, what is a .GZ File, now let’s explore how to open and view the GZ File appropriately. First, you must’ve to install compatible software on your system that helps open .GZ file. Below are a few:

  • Corel WinZip (Windows-Free-Trial)
  • 7-Zip (Windows)
  • Apple Archive Utility (Mac Included)
  • Corel WinZip Mac (Mac-Free-Trial)
  • PeaZip (Linux)
  • RARLAB RAR (Android)
  • File Viewer (Android)

 Then, after you install any of the above software on your particular device, follow the below-instructed steps to open the GZ file.

  • Locate the file having .GZ extension followed by a right-click.

OPEN GZ FILE EXTENSION

  • Now, tap the GZ compatible software and choose either “Extract-File” or “Extract-Here”.
  • Finally, the content inside the .GZ file will now appear on your display.

If you encounter any issue while accomplishing the above steps, just launch the GZ compatible software and manually browse your .GZ extension file.  

An Advisory

Do not confuse Gzip compression with .ZIP files, they both are different and avoid renaming the extension name of your .GZ file as it’ll not change the file format but will cause the file to malfunction.

Files extensions such as “.tgz” or “.tar.gz” indicates “tarballs” and they are .TAR extension files that use the Gzip compression but you’ll commonly encounter such files on Unix systems.

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