Why do Linux distributions ship as XZ archives?

XZ's LZMA2 algorithm produces archives roughly 30% smaller than gzip, which saves serious bandwidth when millions download kernel sources or packages. Compression is slow, but decompression is fast enough that users barely notice.

Is XZ the same thing as 7Z?

They share the LZMA compression family but serve different roles: 7Z is a full multi-file archive container, while XZ compresses a single stream and relies on TAR for bundling. Compression ratios come out very close.

Why does my XZ download have a .tar inside?

A .tar.xz is two layers: XZ compression around a TAR bundle holding the actual files. Linux and macOS unpack both layers with one tar command, while 7-Zip on Windows needs two passes, or you can convert the archive to ZIP for one-step extraction.

Convert to XZ – Free XZ Converter

Convert to XZ

Compress and convert archives between ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, and more formats.
Extract, compress, and convert with adjustable compression levels.

Free tier: 5 conversions/day, files up to 50 MB, ad-supported. Need more? See Pro plans →

256-bit SSL encryptionYour files are protected end-to-end

Lightning-fast conversionsProcess files in seconds, not minutes

All major archive formatsZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR & more

No registration requiredStart instantly — 5 free conversions a day

Files auto-deleted in 1 hourGDPR-friendly: we never keep your files

XZ provides LZMA2 compression in a streamlined format, offering the highest compression ratios for Unix archives. Modern Linux distributions increasingly use .tar.xz for package distribution due to its excellent compression.

Convert to XZ – Free Online XZ Converter

About the XZ Compressed (XZ) Format

LZMA2 compression algorithm. Better ratio than bzip2. Supports integrity checking. Single-file compression.

Common Use Cases for XZ

Linux package distribution
Maximum compression archives
Software releases
Long-term storage

Pros of XZ

Excellent compression
Integrity checking
Modern standard

Cons of XZ

Slowest compression
High memory usage
Newer format

How to convert files to XZ

Upload your file using the area above.
Select XZ as the target format.
Click Start and wait for the conversion to finish.
Download your converted XZ file.