How to convert TAR to ZIP
- 1
Upload your file
Drag and drop a file or click to select one. Keep this page open while the file uploads and converts.
- 2
Convert TAR to ZIP
NexMedia converts TAR to ZIP on its own servers. Processing time depends on the file size and how busy the queue is.
- 3
Download the converted file
When the conversion finishes, the download appears on this page. Your converted file is kept for 2 hours, then deleted.
About TAR
TAR (tape archive) bundles many files and folders into one file and keeps their Unix permissions, but it does not compress them.
Backups and software distribution on Linux and macOS, usually combined with gzip, bzip2 or xz.
A plain .tar file is about as large as the files inside, because no compression is applied.
Convert TAR to ZIP online free, no account required — ZIP is the universally supported archive format.
Change TAR to ZIP without losing quality — convert TAR to ZIP free in your browser.
Why is my TAR file exactly the same size as its contents? TAR only bundles files together — it compresses nothing — so a 500 MB folder becomes a 500 MB archive until a compressor like gzip gets involved.
About ZIP
ZIP is the most widely used archive format, created by Phil Katz in 1989. It compresses each file separately, usually with the Deflate method.
Sending several files as one download or attachment; Windows and macOS open ZIP files without extra software.
Classic ZIP encryption is weak, and AES-encrypted ZIP files need a tool such as 7-Zip to open.
Why convert archives to ZIP? Every operating system opens one with built-in tools, so recipients never need to install anything.
What changes when you convert TAR to ZIP
- No data is lost: every file in your TAR archive is packed into the ZIP archive byte for byte, with its name and folder.
- Your TAR archive is unpacked and its files are packed again into a new ZIP archive; file names and folders are kept, and the TAR file itself is not stored inside.
Settings you can change
Before you convert TAR to ZIP, you can adjust: Compression level, Split size, Password, and Root folder.
Limits
Each plan sets a maximum file size and a number of conversions per day, and video and audio files also have a maximum length. Guests can convert files up to 100 megabytes and 5 per day; a free account raises this to 500 megabytes and 25 per day; paid plans go up to 100 gigabytes.
Your converted ZIP file is kept for 2 hours, then deleted.
TAR to ZIP: questions and answers
Does converting TAR to ZIP reduce quality?
No data is lost: every file in your TAR archive is packed into the ZIP archive byte for byte, with its name and folder.
What is the difference between TAR and ZIP?
TAR is an uncompressed Unix archive. ZIP is the universally supported archive format.
Can I change the settings when converting TAR to ZIP?
Before you convert TAR to ZIP, you can adjust: Compression level, Split size, Password, and Root folder.
Do I need an account to convert TAR to ZIP?
No. You can convert TAR to ZIP without an account; signing in raises the file-size and daily limits.
How long is my converted ZIP file kept?
The ZIP file you convert from TAR is kept for 2 hours, then deleted automatically.
Does converting TAR to ZIP keep my folder structure?
Your TAR archive is unpacked and its files are packed again into a new ZIP archive; file names and folders are kept, and the TAR file itself is not stored inside.
Will converting TAR to ZIP change my original file?
No. The conversion reads your TAR and writes a new ZIP file, leaving your original TAR file untouched.