How to convert an archive to another format
- Click Choose a file or drag one archive onto the drop zone. ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, TAR.XZ, ISO, CAB, CPIO, XAR, LHA/LZH and AR/DEB files can all be read.
- Pick the target format in the Convert to list: ZIP, 7Z, TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, TAR.XZ, ISO or CPIO.
- Only if the source is a password-protected ZIP, type its password in Password (only if the archive is encrypted). Leave the box empty for everything else.
- Click Convert. The new archive keeps the original base name with the new extension, so
photos.rarbecomesphotos.ziporphotos.tar.xz. Save it with the Download button.
Conversion is a two-step job done entirely in your browser: every file is extracted into memory with libarchive (compiled to WebAssembly) or zip.js, then written into a fresh archive of the chosen type. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
Choosing the output format
There is no single best archive format. The right choice depends on who will open the file and on which system. This table summarises what the converter writes for each target:
| Target | Compression | Keeps dates from a ZIP source | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP | Deflate (normal level) | Yes | Sharing with anyone; Windows and macOS open it without extra software |
| 7Z | LZMA | No | Smallest files for storage or upload; needs 7-Zip or a compatible app |
| TAR | None | Yes | Bundling files for Linux and macOS tools without compressing |
| TAR.GZ | gzip | Yes | Source code, server backups, Linux downloads |
| TAR.BZ2 | bzip2 | Yes | Older Unix projects that standardised on bzip2 |
| TAR.XZ | xz | Yes | Compact Linux packages and release tarballs |
| ISO | None | No | Disc images for virtual machines or mounting as a drive |
| CPIO | None | No | Specialised Unix uses such as initramfs images |
The TAR variants are written as POSIX (pax) tar, so long paths and non-English file names survive intact. ISO output uses ISO 9660 with Joliet and Rock Ridge extensions, giving readable long names on Windows, macOS and Linux, but the image is not bootable.
What is kept and what is lost
Every file and its folder path is carried over. Original modification dates survive only in one case: the source is a ZIP and the target is ZIP or a TAR variant. When the source is RAR, 7Z, TAR, TAR.GZ, ISO or another non-ZIP format, the original dates cannot be read in the browser, so the converted files get the current date. 7Z, ISO and CPIO outputs never store dates at all, so files may show 1970 or no date. Empty folders are dropped, because only files are copied, and macOS junk entries (__MACOSX/ folders and ._ files) are skipped automatically. Unix permissions and ownership are not transferred. The converted archive is never encrypted, even when the source ZIP was, so protect it again afterwards if needed.
Tips
- Not sure what is inside? Look first with the ZIP Viewer, which lists RAR, 7Z, TAR and ISO contents without extracting everything.
- If you only need the files, not a new archive, the Archive Extractor is faster.
- To add a password after converting to ZIP, run the result through Password Protect ZIP.
- For common pairs there are dedicated pages, such as RAR to ZIP and ZIP to TAR.GZ.
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert a ZIP to RAR?
No. RAR is a proprietary format and only WinRAR can create it. RAR archives can be read and converted to other formats here, but RAR is never offered as a target.
Why does my encrypted RAR or 7Z file fail?
Password-protected RAR and 7Z archives cannot be opened in the browser. Encrypted ZIP files work if you enter the password.
Will converting make the archive smaller?
It depends on the target. 7Z with LZMA and TAR.XZ usually produce the smallest files, while plain TAR and ISO apply no compression and can be larger than the source.
Can I convert several archives at once?
The converter handles one archive per run. Repeat the steps for each file.