XZ File Opener. Open XZ Online, Free

Extract and view .xz files (LZMA2 compression) directly in your browser. Download individual files or export as ZIP. Files never leave your device.

Plain .xz and .tar.xz supported · Free up to 200 MB · No software install

Drop an .xz file here

or click to select from your computer

Files never leave your device. 100% in-browser

XZ archives (LZMA2 compression) · Free up to 200 MB

Need to open a .tar.xz? Open tar.gz/tar.xz Online Need to open a .gz archive? GZ File Opener

How it works

This tool uses libarchive compiled to WebAssembly to decompress XZ archives entirely in your browser. libarchive supports the LZMA2 algorithm used by the .xz format, and automatically detects whether the archive is a plain .xz (single file) or a .tar.xz (multiple files). No server, no upload, no software.

For .tar.gz and .tgz files, the dedicated Open tar.gz Online tool is also available. For .gz files, use the GZ File Opener. For .7z archives, see Open 7z Online. Read the full guide at How to Open XZ Files Online.

Where you will find .xz files

XZ is the preferred compression for Linux kernel releases (linux-6.x.tar.xz), major software packages distributed via Arch Linux, Fedora, and other distributions that use xz heavily in their package managers (pacman, rpm). Firmware images for embedded devices and router operating systems are also commonly distributed as .xz archives. This tool lets you inspect those files from any device including Windows and macOS.

XZ vs GZ vs BZ2: which is best?

XZ (LZMA2) typically achieves 20-30% better compression ratios than GZip at comparable settings, making archives noticeably smaller. The tradeoff is speed: XZ compression is significantly slower than GZip. For archives that are compressed once and downloaded many times (software releases), XZ is usually the right choice. For streaming and on-the-fly compression (web servers, log rotation), GZip wins on speed. BZIP2 sits between the two in both compression ratio and speed.

Frequently asked questions

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No. Everything happens 100% in your browser using WebAssembly. Your .xz files never leave your device and are never uploaded to any server.

Is it free to use?

Yes. Extracting .xz files up to 200 MB is completely free. No signup required.

What is an XZ file?

XZ is a compression format that uses the LZMA2 algorithm, designed for very high compression ratios. It is widely used in Linux distributions for packaging software and kernel tarballs because it produces smaller files than GZip or BZIP2, at the cost of slower compression speed.

What is the difference between .xz and .tar.xz?

Plain .xz compresses a single file. A .tar.xz combines two steps: TAR bundles multiple files into one archive, then XZ compresses the bundle. This is the format used by most Linux kernel releases and many software packages. This tool handles both.

Why can't macOS or Windows open .xz files natively?

Neither macOS nor Windows include built-in support for XZ compression. macOS can open .tar.gz via Archive Utility but not .xz. Windows has no built-in archiver for either. This browser tool removes that requirement, works on any OS without installing anything.

Is there a file size limit?

The free plan supports .xz files up to 200 MB. For larger archives, a one-time 24-hour Day Pass ($2.99) removes this limit instantly.