To extract or untar tar.gz files in Linux or Unix from an open terminal: Change directory to where your .tar.gz file is located, cd ~/directory_path To extract the contents of the tar.gz file to the current directory, (replacing file_name .tar.gz with the actual name of your file), use the following command: tar -zxvf file_name .tar.gz Note that this process also works to decompress and extract the contents of a .tgz file: tar -xzvf file_name . tgz Or to extract to another directory, type the following, changing /myfolder to the path you want to extract to: tar -C /myfolder -zxvf file_name .tar.gz

How to untar a tar file

You can untar tar files or unzip tar files in Linux by using the tar command along with the -xzvf options. Here's how: Open a terminal; ctrl+alt+t From the terminal, change to the directory where your .tar file has been downloaded. cd ~/directory_path To extract or tar unzip the file to the current directory, type the following command, (Making sure to replace file_name .tar with the actual filename) tar -xvf file_name .tar You can also specify a different directory to extract to using the -C parameter and path to the directory as follows: tar -C /myfolder -xvf file_name .tar

How to Untar, Unzip, or Extract Tar.gz Files in Linux ✅

Learn how to untar, extract, decompress, or open tar files and tar.gz archives in Linux or Unix. Whether you're managing software packages, backups, or downloaded content, mastering Linux tar commands is essential.

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Quick Tar Commands at a Glance

Use these essential commands for extracting and managing tar archives in Linux or Unix:

Archive Type	Tar Command	Notes
.tar	`tar -xvf file_name.tar`	Extracts files from an uncompressed tar archive
.tar.gz .tgz	`tar -zxvf file_name.tar.gz` `tar -zxvf file_name.tgz`	Extracts files from a gzip-compressed tar archive
Any	`tar -C /destination/path -xvf file_name.tar`	Extract to a specific directory

What is a Tar File?

tar (short for tape archive) is a standard Linux and Unix command utility for bundling multiple files or directories into a single archive.

.tar, uncompressed archive
.tar.gz or .tgz, compressed with gzip for smaller file size

Tar files are commonly used for software distribution, backups, and file transfers.

How to Create a Tar.gz Archive

To package a folder into a compressed archive:

tar -czvf archive_name.tar.gz folder_name

Options explained:

Option	Description
-c	Create a new archive
-z	Compress with gzip
-v	Verbose output, shows files being added
-f	Specify archive filename
--exclude="path"	Exclude files or directories

Example:

tar -czvf archive_name.tar.gz folder_name --exclude="folder_name/exclude_this"

How to Untar Files in Linux

"Untar" means extracting files from a tar archive using the tar command.

Extract a .tar File

tar -xvf file_name.tar

-x, extract files
-v, verbose
-f, specify archive file

Extract a .tar.gz or .tgz File

tar -zxvf file_name.tar.gz
tar -zxvf file_name.tgz

-z, decompress gzip
Use -C /path/to/destination to extract elsewhere

Preview Contents Before Extracting

tar -tvf file_name.tar.gz

-t, list files
-v, verbose
-f, specify archive

Why preview first? Prevents clutter, saves time, and keeps workflows organized.

Adding Files to an Existing Tar Archive

tar -rvf archive_name.tar newfile.txt

⚠️ Tip: Avoid appending directly to compressed .tar.gz; decompress first if needed.

.tar vs .tar.gz: When to Use Each

Archive Type	Pros	Cons
.tar	Faster extraction, uncompressed, good for local backups	Large file size
.tar.gz .tgz	Compressed, smaller file size, good for downloads/transfers	Slower extraction due to decompression

Common Tar Synonyms

Untar = Extract, decompress, open, unpack
Tarball = Archive file (.tar, .tar.gz)
Compress/Decompress = gzip, zip, unpack

FAQ: Tar & Untar in Linux

How do I extract a tar.gz file?

Open terminal and run: tar -zxvf filename.tar.gz

How can I view contents without extracting?

Use: tar -tvf filename.tar or tar -tzvf filename.tar.gz

What does -z do?

Enables gzip compression/decompression

Can I compress multiple directories into one tar.gz?

Yes: tar -czvf archive.tar.gz folder1 folder2 folder3

How to extract to another directory?

Use -C: tar -C /target/path -zxvf file.tar.gz

Final Thoughts on Linux Tar

With just a few tar commands, you can easily create, untar, decompress, and manage tar.gz archives in Linux or Unix. Using this guide, you can handle archives efficiently, avoid clutter, and keep your workflows organized.