Free online TAR to TAR.XZ converter
Convert uncompressed TAR archives to smaller TAR.XZ files with lossless XZ compression.
Convert TAR to TAR.XZ online - free
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How to convert tar to tar.xz file
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A TAR archive may need XZ compression for Linux package distribution, long-term storage, or smaller file transfers. Converting it produces a .tar.xz file without changing the archived files.
What the TAR format is
TAR, named from “tape archive,” combines multiple files and directories into one archive but does not compress them. Unix and Linux tools, backup utilities, source-code distribution systems, and programs such as GNU tar create .tar files; they are common when downloading source code or packaging directory trees.
What the TAR.XZ format is
TAR.XZ is a TAR archive compressed with the XZ algorithm. The TAR layer preserves the file structure, permissions, timestamps, and symbolic links, while XZ reduces the archive size. It is common for Linux source packages, software releases, and archives where high compression matters.
How to actually convert TAR to TAR.XZ
Using the command line
On Linux, macOS, or another system with the XZ utility, preserve the original TAR and create the compressed copy with:
xz -k archive.tarThis creates archive.tar.xz. The -k option keeps archive.tar; omit it only if deleting the original is acceptable.
To choose a compression level from 0 through 9, use, for example:
xz -k -6 archive.tarLevel 6 is the usual default. Higher levels can reduce the output slightly but require more memory and processing time.
If the files are still in a directory and no TAR exists yet, create the target directly with GNU TAR:
tar -cJf archive.tar.xz folder/To verify or extract the result, use:
tar -tJf archive.tar.xz
tar -xJf archive.tar.xzUsing an online converter
You can convert the file for free on 101convert.com without installing software: upload the .tar file, select TAR.XZ as the output format, start the conversion, and download the resulting archive.
Quality, compatibility, and limitations
XZ compression is lossless, so conversion does not alter the archived file contents. The output requires software with XZ support; current GNU TAR versions use -J for XZ archives, while older archive tools may require decompressing with xz first and then opening the resulting TAR.
Compressing an existing TAR with xz is preferable when its exact metadata and member order must remain unchanged. Creating a new archive with tar -cJf may change ordering, timestamps, or other TAR metadata depending on the source and command options.
Note: This tar to tar.xz conversion record is incomplete, must be verified, and may contain inaccuracies. Please vote below whether you found this information helpful or not.
TAR vs TAR.XZ: format comparison
How the TAR and TAR.XZ formats compare on the properties that matter most for this conversion.
| Property | .TAR Tape Archive | .TAR.XZ tar archive compressed with XZ |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Uncompressed | Both |
| Compression ratio | — | Very high |
| Encryption | No | No |
| Split archives | No | No |
| Recovery record | No | No |
| Operating system support | Wide | Wide |
| Typical file size | Large | Small |
| Open standard | Yes | Yes |
| Introduced | 1979 | 2009 |
| Developer | AT&T Bell Laboratories | LZMA SDK / GNU tar ecosystem |
| MIME type | application/x-tar | application/x-xz |
Frequently asked questions
Is the TAR to TAR.XZ converter free?
Yes, converting TAR to TAR.XZ on 101convert.com is completely free. No registration, email address or installation is required. If you need a higher file size limit or want to convert more files at once, see our plans.
How large can my TAR file be?
You can upload TAR files up to 1000 MB and convert up to 1 files at once in a single batch.
What happens to my uploaded files?
Files are processed automatically and deleted from our servers within a few minutes after conversion. We never view or share your files.
Do I need to install any software to convert TAR to TAR.XZ?
No. The TAR to TAR.XZ conversion runs entirely online in your browser and works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone.
Did the conversion fail?
In most cases, the cause is an incorrect file format. Please upload a valid TAR file for this TAR to TAR.XZ conversion. Occasionally, the issue may be on our side. We analyze recurring conversion failures and disable or fix the converter if we detect a defect.