Archives file extensions
Compressed and packaged files used for transfer, backup, and software distribution.
Total extensions in this category: 70
Extensions in Archives
Explore the most searched extensions in this category.
- .zip
ZIP Archive
ZIP archives are widely used to compress and bundle multiple files or folders for easier storage and sharing.
- .rar
RAR Archive
.rar files are compressed archive containers used to bundle and compress one or more files, often including split (multi-part) archives. They’re commonly opened by WinRAR and can usually be extracted by tools like 7-Zip and The Unarchiver.
- .bz2
bzip2 Compressed File
.bz2 is a bzip2-compressed file, typically used to shrink a single file for storage or download. To use the contents, you usually decompress it with an extractor such as 7-Zip or the bzip2 command-line tool.
- .7z
7-Zip Archive
A .7z file is a 7-Zip compressed archive, commonly used to bundle and compress files with high compression ratios. Open it with 7-Zip on Windows or compatible archive tools such as WinRAR, Keka, The Unarchiver, p7zip, ZArchiver, or RAR.
- .gz
Gzip Compressed File
GZ files are compressed using the gzip algorithm, commonly used for reducing file size and bundling files with TAR.
- .br
Brotli-compressed data
.br files contain data compressed with the Brotli algorithm, commonly used for web delivery. You open them by decompressing with Brotli tools or compatible archivers, then opening the extracted original file.
- .crx
Chrome/Chromium Extension Package (CRX)
.crx is the packaged format used to distribute Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browser extensions. It is essentially a signed wrapper around a ZIP archive containing the extension’s files.
- .ipa
iOS/iPadOS App Store Package (IPA)
.ipa is the package format for iOS/iPadOS apps. It is essentially a ZIP archive that contains an app bundle (typically under Payload/*.app) and related metadata used for installation and distribution.
- .obb
Android APK Expansion File (OBB)
.obb files are Android APK expansion files used to deliver large app assets (such as game data) outside the main APK. They are typically used by Android apps and the Android OS rather than opened directly by users.
- .tar
Tape Archive
TAR files are used to bundle multiple files into a single archive without compression, primarily in Unix/Linux environments.
- .aar
Android Archive (AAR) library package
.aar is an Android library package used by Android/Gradle builds. It is a ZIP-based archive that can include compiled code (classes.jar), resources (res/), and an AndroidManifest.xml.
- .nupkg
NuGet package
.nupkg is a NuGet package used by .NET tooling. It is a ZIP-based archive that contains compiled code, related files, and a package manifest.
- .zz
Zzip Compressed Archive
ZZ files are compressed archives using the Zzip algorithm, offering efficient file size reduction for storage and transfer.
- .azf
AZF Archive File
.AZF is an AirZip FileSECURE secure file format, not a normal ZIP-style archive. It is a proprietary encrypted/rights-managed format intended to be opened with AirZip FileSECURE Reader.
- .azs
AZS Archive File
.AZS files are AirZip FileSECURE secure container files, not ordinary ZIP archives. They are intended to be opened with AirZip FileSECURE Reader, primarily on Windows.
- .td
TD Archive File
.td most commonly refers to a Universal Remote Console (URC) Target Description (TD) XML document, not a general-purpose archive. You can open it with an XML-capable editor/viewer or URC tooling that understands the URC Target Description format.
- .xz
XZ Archive File
.XZ files are used for compression, packaging, backup, and software distribution. Use archive tools that support this container and its compression method. This guide covers opening methods, troubleshooting, and security best practices. Common MIME type: application/x-xz.
- .cbr
CBR Archive File
.CBR is a comic book archive that is usually a RAR file containing images (pages) in reading order. You open it with a comic/ebook reader that supports CBR or by extracting the RAR archive to view the images.
- .cbz
CBZ Archive File
.CBZ is a comic book archive: a ZIP file that bundles images (pages) in reading order. You open it with a comic reader (viewer) or any ZIP-capable archive tool.
- .eln
ELN Archive File
.ELN is an Electronic Lab Notebook exchange package that is essentially a ZIP-based RO-Crate. You can open it with ELN software that supports the ELN format, or treat it like a ZIP archive to inspect its contents.
- .flb
FLB Archive File
.FLB most commonly refers to an archive/backup file used by specific software, including GE Fanuc VersaPro PLC programming tools. To open it, use the application that created it or treat it as a vendor ZIP-based archive when appropriate.
- .gdz
GDZ Archive File
.GDZ is a GEDZIP package: a ZIP archive used to bundle a GEDCOM genealogy data file together with linked media (photos, documents, etc.). You can usually open it by extracting it with standard ZIP tools, then opening the included .GED file in genealogy software.
- .imf
IMF Archive File
.IMF is most commonly an ImageMeter project export: a ZIP-based container that bundles a whole project folder (including images) for backup or transfer between devices.
- .imi
IMI Archive File
.IMI is an ImageMeter “Image” archive used to share or back up an editable photo-measurement project. It is a ZIP-based container that stores image data (e.g., JPEG/PNG/PDF) plus annotations and measurement/vector data.
- .lz4
LZ4 frame-compressed file
.lz4 files hold data compressed with the LZ4 algorithm, typically using the LZ4 “frame” container format. They are commonly opened by decompressing them with the lz4 command-line tools.
- .vsix
Visual Studio VSIX extension package
.vsix is a packaged extension used to install add-ins into Microsoft development tools such as Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code. It is essentially a ZIP/OPC container that includes an extension manifest and the files that make up the extension.
- .xapk
XAPK Android app package (APK bundle with extra assets)
.xapk is a third-party Android app package format that bundles one or more APKs together with additional files such as OBB expansion data. It’s commonly installed using an XAPK-capable installer app (for example, APKPure) or opened on a computer as an archive to inspect its contents.
- .ist
IST Archive File
.IST most commonly refers to an InstallShield Project Template used to create Windows installers, but it is also used for IsoStar (CCDC) chemical scatterplot/library data where the correct MIME type is chemical/x-isostar.
- .lca
LCA Archive File
.LCA is a CircuitSafari archive file used to package a complete circuit hierarchy. It is a ZIP-based container associated with the IANA-registered media type application/vnd.logipipe.circuit+zip.
- .lcs
LCS Archive File
.LCS is an ambiguous extension used by multiple unrelated formats. One well-documented meaning is CircuitSafari “circuit level” files, which are ZIP archives containing XML (root.xml).
- .lpf
LPF Archive File
.LPF is a W3C Lightweight Packaging Format file: a ZIP-based container used for digital publications. You typically open it with publishing/reading tools that support the media type application/lpf+zip, or inspect it as a ZIP archive.
- .mpw
MPW Archive File
.MPW is an ambiguous extension most commonly used for a Microsoft Project Workspace settings file. It may also be associated (via MIME registration) with a vendor-specific ZIP-based package type used by OpenText Exstream Empower.
- .sda
SDA Archive File
.SDA files are StarOffice/OpenOffice.org Draw drawing documents (not a general-purpose archive). They are typically opened with Apache OpenOffice Draw and related office suites that support legacy StarDraw formats.
- .sdc
SDC Archive File
.SDC most commonly refers to legacy StarOffice/OpenOffice Calc spreadsheet files, but the extension is also used for Microsoft “Secure Download Cabinet” files. To open it reliably, first identify which type you have, then use the matching application.
- .sdd
SDD Archive File
.SDD is most commonly a legacy StarOffice/StarImpress presentation file format that can be opened by Apache OpenOffice (and related suites) as an older “StarImpress” document.
- .sds
SDS Archive File
.SDS is most commonly a StarOffice/OpenOffice StarChart document (a chart file), identified by the MIME type application/vnd.stardivision.chart.
- .sdw
SDW Archive File
.SDW is most commonly a legacy StarOffice/StarWriter word-processing document format (not a general-purpose “archive”). It is typically opened with Apache OpenOffice (and compatible office suites that support old StarWriter formats).
- .sgl
SGL Archive File
.sgl is most commonly a StarOffice/Apache OpenOffice/LibreOffice Writer Global (master document) file, used to organize and assemble large documents from multiple sub-documents.
- .sit
SIT Archive File
.SIT is a StuffIt archive format most commonly associated with classic Mac software distribution. To open it, you typically need StuffIt Expander or another tool that can extract StuffIt archives.
- .smf
SMF Archive File
.SMF most commonly refers to a StarMath/StarOffice Math formula document used by Apache OpenOffice and LibreOffice. It is not primarily an “archive” format in common modern use.
- .tao
TAO Archive File
.TAO most commonly refers to a Track-At-Once (TAO) CD/DVD image file that can be inspected or extracted with disc-image tools on desktop systems. The .tao extension is also associated in registries with the media type application/vnd.tao.intent-module-archive, so the correct app depends on where the file came from.
- .taz
TAZ Archive File
.taz is most commonly a Unix tar archive compressed with the traditional Unix compress algorithm (equivalent to a .tar.Z archive). You can open it by decompressing it (uncompress) and then extracting the tar contents (tar).
- .tgz
TGZ Archive File
.TGZ is a gzip-compressed tar archive (a “tarball”). It’s widely used on Linux/macOS and for software source packages and can be extracted by most archive tools.
- .uvz
UVZ Archive File
.UVZ files are used for compression, packaging, backup, and software distribution. Use archive tools that support this container and its compression method. This guide covers opening methods, troubleshooting, and security best practices. Common MIME type: application/vnd.dece.zip.
- .xdd
XDD Archive File
.XDD files are used for compression, packaging, backup, and software distribution. Use archive tools that support this container and its compression method. This guide covers opening methods, troubleshooting, and security best practices. Common MIME type: application/bacnet-xdd+zip.
- .zfo
ZFO Archive File
.ZFO files are used for compression, packaging, backup, and software distribution. Use archive tools that support this container and its compression method. This guide covers opening methods, troubleshooting, and security best practices. Common MIME type: application/vnd.software602.filler.form-xml-zip.
- .amlx
AMLX Archive File
.AMLX files are archive files used primarily in automation and engineering applications, compatible with multiple platforms.
- .asice
ASICE Archive File
.ASICE is an ETSI ASiC-E electronic signature container: a ZIP-based archive that bundles signed documents with their digital signatures and related metadata. Open it with an e-signature or ASiC validation application, not by simply renaming it.
- .asics
ASICS Archive File
.ASICS files are ETSI ASiC-S digital-signature containers: ZIP-based archives that package one data object with electronic signatures or timestamps. Open them with ASiC/DigiDoc-compatible validation or signing software, not by simply renaming the file.
- .bcpio
BCPIO Archive File
A .bcpio file is a Binary CPIO archive, an older cpio archive variant used to store multiple files and directories in one package. It can usually be extracted with cpio-compatible tools such as GNU cpio, BSD cpio/libarchive-based tools, 7-Zip, or PeaZip.
- .cpio
CPIO Archive File
.cpio is a UNIX-style archive format used to bundle files and directories into a single stream, commonly seen in Linux/UNIX workflows (including initramfs). You can open or extract it with cpio-compatible tools such as cpio(1) or libarchive-based tools.
- .gtar
GTAR Archive File
.gtar is a GNU tar (tar-family) archive file used to bundle multiple files into a single archive, similar to .tar. You can open it with tar tools or archive managers on most desktop systems.
- .hpub
HPUB Archive File
.hpub is an HPub (HTML Publication) archive: a ZIP-based package that contains HTML5 content and a required manifest (book.json). You typically open it with HPub-capable reader/creator software or unzip it to view the contents.
- .sitx
SITX Archive File
.sitx is a StuffIt X compressed archive format, most commonly seen on macOS. You typically open/extract it with StuffIt tools or The Unarchiver rather than trying to rename the extension.
- .stpxz
STPXZ Archive File
.STPXZ is a ZIP-compressed STEP-XML (ISO 10303-28) file used to exchange 3D CAD/product data in an XML-based STEP representation.
- .stpz
STPZ Archive File
.stpz is a compressed STEP (ISO 10303-21) CAD exchange file packaged as a ZIP. Open it with CAD/STEP import tools that support “compressed STEP (.stpz)”, or unzip it to access the embedded .stp/.step data.
- .uvvz
UVVZ Archive File
.UVVZ files are used for compression, packaging, backup, and software distribution. Use archive tools that support this container and its compression method. This guide covers opening methods, troubleshooting, and security best practices. Common MIME type: application/vnd.dece.zip.
- .zst
ZST Archive File
.ZST files are used for compression, packaging, backup, and software distribution. Use archive tools that support this container and its compression method. This guide covers opening methods, troubleshooting, and security best practices. Common MIME type: application/zstd.
- .espass
ESPASS Archive File
.espass is a ZIP-based archive used to package an esPass “pass” (a main.json file plus related assets). You typically open it with an app that supports the registered MIME type application/vnd.espass-espass+zip (notably PassAndroid).
- .genozip
GENOZIP Archive File
.genozip is a compressed archive format created by the Genozip tool, commonly used in bioinformatics to compress genomic data files. You typically open it by decompressing with Genozip’s command-line utilities.
- .istr
ISTR Archive File
.ISTR files are IsoStar scatterplot/data files associated with the IsoStar application from the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC). They typically open in IsoStar, and may rely on correct MIME type handling (chemical/x-isostar) in some workflows.
- .joda
JODA Archive File
.joda is a JODA Archive file (Joost Open Distribution Archive). It is associated with the MIME type application/vnd.joost.joda-archive and is typically opened with software that understands Joost’s JODA archive format.
- .lhzd
LHZD Archive File
.LHZD is a compressed Live Home 3D project file used for storing home design projects in a ZIP-based format. Open it with Live Home 3D; if you don’t have that app, treat it as a project file rather than a general-purpose archive.
- .lhzl
LHZL Archive File
.LHZL is a BeLight Software vendor archive format that is identified by the registered MIME type application/vnd.belightsoft.lhzl+zip. On most systems it behaves like a ZIP-based archive, but you’ll usually get the best results by opening it with the BeLight app that created it.
- .sipa
SIPA Archive File
.SIPA is a Smint.io Portal Archive export used to back up or transfer Smint.io Portals content. It is essentially a ZIP archive with a different extension.
- .sv4cpio
SV4CPIO Archive File
.sv4cpio is an SVR4 (System V Release 4) CPIO archive, a Unix-style container that bundles files and directories. You typically open it with cpio-compatible tools such as GNU cpio or libarchive-based extractors.
- .ustar
USTAR Archive File
.USTAR is a tar archive that uses the POSIX “ustar” (Unix Standard TAR) format. You can open it with common tar-capable tools such as GNU tar or libarchive-based tools (bsdtar).
- .apks
Android APK Set Archive (APKS)
.apks is a ZIP-based “APK set archive” that bundles multiple APKs (often split APKs) for Android app installation. You typically open it by extracting it like a ZIP file, or by installing it on Android with an installer that understands split/APK sets.
- .ear
Jakarta EE Enterprise Archive (EAR)
.ear is a Jakarta EE (formerly Java EE) deployment package used to bundle an enterprise application for an application server. It’s a JAR/ZIP-based archive that typically contains modules like .war and .jar plus META-INF descriptors.
- .sxa
SXA Archive
SXA files are archive files used to bundle multiple files together, often for software distribution or backup purposes.