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Archive guide

How to compress or open a GZ file

GZIP is commonly used to compress one file or data stream. It is different from ZIP, which can package many files together.

Quick answer

Use GZIP to compress one file, or Gunzip to restore a .gz file.

Choose the file and select the direction you need. Compression creates a .gz file; decompression restores the compressed bytes.

Open GZIP tool →

Compress or decompress GZIP

  1. Choose the file.For decompression, select the existing .gz file.
  2. Choose the action.Compress creates GZIP output; Decompress opens a GZIP stream.
  3. Download the result.Save the generated .gz file or restored file.
  4. Use ZIP for multiple files.If you need an archive containing several filenames, use Create ZIP instead.
GZIP is usually one stream

It is not the same type of multi-file archive as ZIP.

File extension may be removed on decompression

A typical .gz filename is restored without the .gz suffix.

Common questions

Is GZIP the same as ZIP?

No. GZIP normally compresses one stream, while ZIP can contain multiple files and folders.

Can I decompress .gz files?

Yes. Use the Decompress GZIP action.

Should I use GZIP for several files?

Use ZIP when you want to package multiple files together.