How to Open a TAR File on iPhone

A .tar file bundles many files into one without compressing them. Drop it below to see what's inside and save any file – right on your iPhone, without installing anything.

Drop a .zip, .tar.gz, .tgz, .tar or .gz file here

Nothing is uploaded · RAR and 7z aren't supported

Opened on your device. Your archive never leaves your browser.

Step by step: Open a TAR File on iPhone

  1. 1

    Open this page in Safari (or Chrome) on your iPhone or iPad.

  2. 2

    Tap the box above and pick the file in the Files app. Attachments saved from Mail, Messages or Safari are usually in On My iPhone › Downloads.

  3. 3

    Every file inside is listed, with the total size.

  4. 4

    Download all the files (or, in Chrome and Edge on a computer, save them straight into a folder). Tap Download. Safari saves the file to Files › Downloads – tap the download arrow in the address bar to open it or share it.

What you can do with the contents

  • See what's inside before saving anything, then save every file in one go.
  • Folders inside the archive are kept, so files stay organised.

About TAR files

  • A .tar file bundles many files into one without compressing them. It's common on Linux and macOS but awkward to open on phones and older Windows PCs.

Tips for iPhone

  • There's no app to install from the App Store – the tool runs inside Safari, and the file never leaves your iPhone.

Frequently asked questions

Is a .tar file safe to open?

Extracting an archive is safe in itself – nothing inside runs. Be careful with programs (.exe, .sh, .app) you then choose to open, as with any download.

Is there a size limit?

No fixed limit. Archives of hundreds of megabytes work on most computers; phones may struggle with very large ones because everything happens in memory.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No. The conversion runs in your browser using your device's own processor, so your files never leave your device. You can even disconnect from the internet once the page has loaded.

Where does the converted file go on my iPhone?

Tap Download. Safari saves the file to Files › Downloads – tap the download arrow in the address bar to open it or share it.

Need more options? Open the full Extract TAR.GZ tool →

Related guides

How to Open a TAR File onlineHow to Open a TAR File on AndroidHow to Open a TAR File on WindowsHow to Open a TAR File on ChromebookHow to Convert TAR.GZ to ZIP on iPhoneHow to Open a TAR.GZ File on iPhoneHow to Convert TGZ to ZIP on iPhoneHow to Open a TGZ File on iPhoneHow to Convert TAR to ZIP on iPhone