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TGZ RAR
File conversion

Convert TGZ to RAR

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jun 23, 2026
QUICK ANSWER
Is it possible to convert TGZ to RAR?
Yes - TGZ converts to RAR.

Upload your file above and download the converted .rar for free in seconds. The key caveat: RAR creation is proprietary, so only WinRAR (or RARLAB's rar CLI) can perform the repacking step - no fully free desktop tool writes .rar.

2 programs
Also to RAR: SCS · UU · NBA

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert TGZ to RAR?

People convert TGZ to RAR when a recipient or delivery system specifically requires the .RAR format. RAR supports AES-256 encryption (including encrypting the file list), recovery records for repairing damaged archives, and better compression on some file types - features that TGZ lacks. It is also the dominant archive format on many Windows-centric communities and download sites.

How to convert TGZ to RAR

WinRAR PAID

Right-click the .tgz in Explorer and choose Extract, then select the extracted files, right-click, and pick Add to archive - set the format to RAR or RAR5.

Command line - rar (Windows) CLI

With WinRAR installed, run WinRAR x file.tgz out\ && rar a output.rar out\ in a terminal.

Command line - rar (macOS / Linux) CLI

Run tar -xzf file.tgz -C out/ && rar a output.rar out/ after installing the rar binary from rarlab.com.

Programs that convert TGZ

WinRAR
ALZip

About these formats

.TGZ Gzip-Compressed TAR Archive

A TGZ file is a gzip-compressed TAR archive - the same thing as .tar.gz, just spelled for old 8.3 filenames. On Windows use free 7-Zip or PeaZip, or run tar -xzf file.tgz in a terminal…

Open .TGZ details →
.RAR RAR Archive (Roshal ARchive)

A RAR file is a compressed archive that bundles and shrinks one or more files into a single container, often split into parts or password-protected. To open one for free, use 7-Zip on…

Open .RAR details →

Quality & what to watch

  • RAR creation is proprietary - only WinRAR and the RARLAB rar CLI can write .rar files; tools like 7-Zip and PeaZip can only extract them.
  • Unix file permissions, ownership, and symlinks stored in .tgz tar headers are typically dropped when repacking on Windows; use the Linux rar CLI if this metadata matters.
  • This is a two-step recompression: the .tgz must be fully extracted first, requiring temporary disk space equal to the uncompressed archive size.

Frequently asked questions

Can 7-Zip convert TGZ to RAR?
No. 7-Zip can extract .tgz for free but cannot write .rar files. You can use it for the extraction step, then use WinRAR to create the RAR archive.
Is there a free way to create RAR files?
No legitimate free tool creates RAR. WinRAR has a 40-day trial and continues to function after it expires, but a license is required for ongoing use.
Will the RAR be smaller than the TGZ?
Not always - for text and source code RAR can edge out gzip, but for already-compressed content like images or video the difference is negligible.
Will I lose any files in the conversion?
No files are lost if you extract all contents before repacking. However, Unix metadata such as file permissions and symlinks stored in the tar headers is typically dropped when creating the .rar on Windows.