How to Extract a TAR File on Chromebook

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 Chromebook 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 Chromebook

  1. 1

    Open this page in Chrome on your Chromebook.

  2. 2

    Click the box above and pick the file in the Files app (My files, Downloads or Google Drive), or drag it in.

  3. 3

    You'll see every file inside along with the total size.

  4. 4

    Save all the files (or, in Chrome and Edge on a computer, straight into a folder). Click Download. The file is saved in My files › Downloads.

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.

Chromebook tips

  • Managed school and work Chromebooks often block apps and extensions. This tool needs neither – it's just a normal Chrome tab.
  • After the page has loaded, the conversion works even without an internet connection.

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 Chromebook?

Click Download. The file is saved in My files › Downloads.

Need more options? Open the full Extract TAR.GZ tool →

More guides like this