Convert TAR.BZ2 to TAR
Free, fast and secure — convert TAR.BZ2 to TAR right in your browser.
Convert TAR.BZ2 to TAR for wider compatibility
Converting TAR.BZ2 to TAR gives you a more widely supported file that opens cleanly across more devices, apps and platforms — handy when TAR.BZ2 will not play nicely everywhere.
How to convert TAR.BZ2 to TAR
- 1 Drop your TAR.BZ2 file into the converter above.
- 2 It is converted to TAR automatically — no settings to fiddle with.
- 3 Download your new TAR file instantly.
TAR.BZ2 vs TAR
| Feature | TAR.BZ2 | TAR |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| MIME type | application/x-bzip2 | application/x-tar |
| Best for | Archiving and distributing files on Unix systems when smaller size matters more than speed. | Bundling files on Linux and macOS, ready to be compressed as a .tar.gz or .tar.bz2. |
About the formats
bzip2-compressed TAR archive
TAR.BZ2 is a TAR archive compressed with bzip2, which packs tighter than gzip in exchange for slower speed. It is common for source releases and archival on Unix-like systems.
Strengths
- Smaller files than TAR.GZ
- Preserves Unix permissions and structure
- Widely supported on Linux and macOS
Limitations
- Slower to compress and extract
- Not native to Windows
- Superseded by xz for new projects
Best for: Archiving and distributing files on Unix systems when smaller size matters more than speed.
TAR archive
TAR (tape archive) bundles many files into a single uncompressed stream, preserving Unix permissions and structure. It is the backbone of Linux and macOS packaging, usually paired with gzip or bzip2 compression.
Strengths
- Preserves Unix permissions and symlinks
- Universal on Linux and macOS
- Ideal base for compressed tarballs
Limitations
- No compression on its own
- Not native to Windows
- No random access to members
Best for: Bundling files on Linux and macOS, ready to be compressed as a .tar.gz or .tar.bz2.