How to Extract a TAR File on Android
A .tar bundles many files into a single file without compressing them. Drop it below to look inside and save whatever you need, right on your Android phone and without installing a thing.
Drop a .zip, .tar.gz, .tgz, .tar or .gz file here
Nothing is uploaded · RAR and 7z aren't supported
Opened on your device. Your archive never leaves your browser.
The steps: Extract a TAR File on Android
- 1
Open this page in Chrome (or another browser) on your Android phone or tablet.
- 2
Tap the box above. Android's file picker opens – look under Images, Recent or Browse to reach Gallery, Downloads or Google Drive.
- 3
You'll see every file inside along with the total size.
- 4
Save all the files (or, in Chrome and Edge on a computer, straight into a folder). Tap Download. The file goes into your Download folder – open it from Files by Google or Chrome's downloads list.
What you can do with what's inside
- Check the contents before you save anything, then grab every file at once.
- Folders in the archive are preserved, so your files stay organised.
TAR files in brief
- A .tar bundles many files into a single file without compressing them. It's everyday on Linux and macOS but awkward on phones and older Windows PCs.
Android phone tips
- Skipping a Play Store app means no extra permissions, no in-app ads and no storage used up.
Questions & answers
Is opening a .tar file safe?
Extracting an archive is safe by itself – nothing inside gets run. Treat any programs you then open (.exe, .sh, .app) with the same care as any download.
How large can the archive be?
There's no fixed cap. Archives of several hundred megabytes work on most computers; phones can struggle with very big ones since everything happens in memory.
Do my files get sent anywhere?
No. Your browser does the conversion with your device's own processor, so your files stay with you. Once the page has loaded you could even switch off your internet connection.
Where do I find the converted file on my Android phone?
Tap Download. The file goes into your Download folder – open it from Files by Google or Chrome's downloads list.
Need more options? Open the full Extract TAR.GZ tool →