How to Unzip or Extract tar.gz Files on Windows

Extracting tar.gz files on Windows involves using third-party tools, as the native Windows file explorer does not support this compression format directly. You can use software like 7-Zip, WinRAR, or the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) to accomplish this task. Here are two common methods using 7-Zip and WSL:

Method 1: Using 7-Zip

1.Download and Install 7-Zip:

If you don't have 7-Zip installed, download it from [7-Zip's official website](https://www.7-zip.org/) and install it on your Windows machine.

2.Locate the tar.gz File:

Navigate to the directory where your tar.gz file is located.

3.Right-click on the tar.gz File:

Right-click on the tar.gz file you want to extract.

4.Choose 7-Zip Options:

From the context menu, hover over the "7-Zip" option, then choose "Extract Here" to extract the contents in the same directory, or select "Extract to \<folder name>" to extract to a new folder.

5.Wait for Extraction:

7-Zip will extract the contents of the tar.gz file. Wait for the process to complete.

Method 2: Using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

1.Enable WSL:

• Open PowerShell as Administrator.
• Run the command:

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux 
/all /norestart

2.Install a Linux Distribution:

• Install your preferred Linux distribution from the Microsoft Store (e.g., Ubuntu, Debian).
• Launch the installed Linux distribution, create a user account, and set a password.

3.Navigate to the tar.gz File:

• In the Linux terminal, navigate to the directory where your tar.gz file is located.

4.Extract the File:

• Use the following command to extract the contents:

tar -xzvf filename.tar.gz

Replace "filename.tar.gz" with the actual name of your tar.gz file.

5.Access the Extracted Files:

• Once the extraction is complete, you can access the extracted files using the Linux terminal or navigate to the folder using Windows File Explorer.

Using either method, you can successfully extract the contents of tar.gz files on a Windows system. Choose the method that best fits your preferences and workflow.