How to compress files into TAR or TAR.GZ
Select files, set the archive options, and click Compress. You can create one archive for each file or combine the selection into one archive. A worker reads the files in your browser, and the page does not send their contents to a server.
- Drop one or more files into Drop files here, or click browse files to select them.
- Choose Apply GZIP compression (.tar.gz) for TAR.GZ output, or clear it for TAR output.
- Choose Remove original extension and Combine all files into one archive as needed.
- Click Compress and wait for the rows to show their status.
- Use a completed row's download button, Download all as ZIP, or the combined archive download.
What the TAR archive options change
For a file named logs.txt, these settings produce the following name:
Apply GZIP compression (.tar.gz): on
Remove original extension: on
Output: logs.tar.gz- Clear Apply GZIP compression (.tar.gz) to produce
logs.tarinstead. - Clear Remove original extension to produce
logs.txt.tar.gzfor that same file. - Select Combine all files into one archive to put the selection in
archive.tar.gz, orarchive.tarwhen GZIP is off.
How to create separate or combined TAR archives
Leave Combine all files into one archive clear to give each selected file its own row. A completed row shows the output size, savings, status, a download button, and a remove button. After at least two individual archives are ready, Download all as ZIP creates tar-archives.zip with those generated TAR or TAR.GZ files.
Select the option to create one archive for the whole selection. The summary shows the number of included files and the archive size. Changing any checkbox clears the previous results, so click Compress again after changing an option.
What a generated TAR archive keeps
Each archive contains the selected file names and contents. The worker writes fixed permission, owner, group, and format values in each TAR header, along with the current timestamp. Source metadata is not preserved. TAR names use a 100-byte field, so a longer name can be cut in the archive header.
When TAR.GZ creation cannot finish
TAR.GZ output requires a browser that exposes CompressionStream. If it is unavailable, the page reports GZIP compression is not supported by this browser. Clear Apply GZIP compression (.tar.gz) and click Compress again to create plain TAR. The page keeps source files and generated buffers in memory, so a large selection can fail when the browser cannot allocate enough memory. Savings use the original and output sizes, so an output larger than the source can produce a negative percentage.
Where creating a TAR archive comes up
For a handoff, select source and configuration files, then choose one combined archive. A set of reports can stay together in one TAR.GZ while their original names remain inside the archive.
For separate outputs, select several files and review each row's savings and status. The remove button drops an unwanted file from the current selection before the next compression.
When to use Archive Creator instead
Open Archive Compress Tools to browse related archive jobs. Choose Archive Creator when the input includes folders, path filtering, duplicate resolution, or ZIP output. Use this page for individual files and separate TAR or TAR.GZ results, or for one combined archive.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create a TAR.GZ file from files?
Select files, leave Apply GZIP compression (.tar.gz) selected, and click Compress. The page creates one result per file unless you select Combine all files into one archive.
Can I combine files into one TAR archive?
Select Combine all files into one archive before clicking Compress. The combined download is named archive.tar.gz with GZIP or archive.tar without it.
Can I select a whole folder for TAR creation?
The page accepts individual files through Drop files here or browse files. Select or drop the files you want to include.
Why does my TAR file show little or no savings?
The page calculates savings from the original and output sizes. Individual mode displays that percentage in each completed row, and an output larger than the source can produce a negative percentage.
Why is Download all as ZIP unavailable?
Download all as ZIP appears only when at least two individual archives are ready. It stays disabled when the JSZip library is unavailable.