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.GDZ file extension

To open .GDZ files on Windows, try opening the .GDZ file with a ZIP tool (e.g., File Explorer’s built-in ZIP support or 7-Zip) and extract it to a new folder.

To open a .GDZ file, treat it as a ZIP archive: extract it with a ZIP utility (or open it in an app that supports GEDZIP/GEDCOM packages). Then open the contained .GED (GEDCOM) file and any media files in your usual genealogy or viewer apps.

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Last updated: April 30, 2026 · Reviewed by Julian Stricker

Open on your device

Choose your operating system for a dedicated step-by-step opening guide.

How to open .GDZ files

Use these platform-specific instructions to open .GDZ files safely.

Windows

  1. Try opening the .GDZ file with a ZIP tool (e.g., File Explorer’s built-in ZIP support or 7-Zip) and extract it to a new folder.
  2. Open the extracted .GED file with genealogy software that can import GEDCOM, and verify the media files are present in the extracted folder.
Full Windows guide

Mac

  1. Double-click the .GDZ file to extract it (Archive Utility may open it as a ZIP), or use another ZIP tool if needed.
  2. Open the extracted .GED file in genealogy software that supports GEDCOM, keeping the extracted media files in the same folder structure.
Full Mac guide

Linux

  1. Extract the .GDZ using your archive manager (or command-line unzip) into a dedicated folder.
  2. Open/import the extracted .GED file in your genealogy software, and confirm media paths resolve to the extracted media files.
Full Linux guide

iOS

  1. In the Files app, try tapping the .GDZ to extract it (if supported); otherwise share it to an archive/unzip app to extract, then open the .GED in a GEDCOM-capable genealogy app or transfer the extracted folder to a desktop.
Full iOS guide

Android

  1. Open the .GDZ in a file manager that can extract ZIP archives, extract it to a folder, then open/import the .GED in a GEDCOM-capable genealogy app or move the extracted files to a desktop for easier handling.
Full Android guide

Security notes

  • .GDZ is a ZIP archive and may contain any file types; treat it like any downloaded archive and be cautious with unexpected executables or scripts included inside.
  • Extract the archive to a new, dedicated folder so you can review its contents (the included .GED plus media files) before opening anything suspicious.
  • Be cautious when opening a .GDZ from an untrusted source: malformed archives or unexpected file contents can exploit vulnerabilities in archive tools or viewers.

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Can't open this file?

These are the most common causes and fixes when .GDZ files fail to open.

Common reasons

  • The .GDZ file won’t open or extract
  • GEDCOM opens but media (photos/documents) are missing
  • My genealogy app doesn’t recognize .GDZ

Fix steps

  1. Try opening/extracting it with a different ZIP tool that supports ZIP archives broadly (e.g., 7-Zip).
  2. If you received the file online, re-download it and compare file sizes; incomplete downloads commonly break ZIP extraction.

OS-specific troubleshooting

What is a .GDZ file?

.GDZ is the filename extension specified for GEDZIP, a ZIP-based packaging format defined by the FamilySearch GEDCOM standard. It is designed to transmit a GEDCOM document plus external files referenced by that GEDCOM (typically media such as images). The registered media type for GEDZIP is application/vnd.familysearch.gedcom+zip.

Background

GEDZIP (commonly stored as .GDZ) exists to solve a practical genealogy-sharing problem: a GEDCOM text file (.GED) may reference photos and other external media, but sending only the .GED breaks those links. A GEDZIP package bundles the .GED together with the related files in a single ZIP archive so everything can travel together.

The FamilySearch GEDCOM specification (v7) documents GEDZIP packaging and states that the .gdz filename extension should be used. FamilySearch also notes IANA recognition of the related media types, including the GEDZIP type application/vnd.familysearch.gedcom+zip.

In day-to-day use, many people handle .GDZ like any other ZIP: extract it, then import/open the .GED into genealogy software and browse the included media files (images, PDFs, etc.).

Common MIME types: application/vnd.familysearch.gedcom+zip

Further reading

Authoritative resources for more details on the .GDZ format.

Common .GDZ issues

The .GDZ file won’t open or extract

A .GDZ is a ZIP-based archive (GEDZIP). If extraction fails, the file may be incomplete/corrupted or your tool may not recognize the .gdz extension even though it is a ZIP container.

  1. Try opening/extracting it with a different ZIP tool that supports ZIP archives broadly (e.g., 7-Zip).
  2. If you received the file online, re-download it and compare file sizes; incomplete downloads commonly break ZIP extraction.

GEDCOM opens but media (photos/documents) are missing

GEDZIP is meant to include external files referenced by the GEDCOM, but media links can still break if files were not included, folder paths changed, or the GEDCOM references files not present in the archive.

  1. Make sure you extracted the entire .GDZ and kept the original folder structure intact.
  2. Check whether the referenced media files are actually present in the extracted folder; if not, ask the sender to re-export a complete GEDZIP package.

My genealogy app doesn’t recognize .GDZ

Some apps can import the .GED file but do not directly accept GEDZIP (.gdz) as an import source.

  1. Extract the .GDZ as a ZIP archive, then import/open the contained .GED file in your genealogy program.
  2. If your app supports importing media, point it to the extracted media folder when prompted.

FAQ

Is .GDZ the same as .ZIP?

A .GDZ (GEDZIP) package is a ZIP archive by design, but it has conventions for bundling a GEDCOM (.GED) file together with referenced media. Many ZIP tools can extract it even if they don’t specifically mention GEDZIP.

What should be inside a .GDZ file?

Typically a GEDCOM file (often .GED) plus related external files such as images or documents referenced by the GEDCOM. The purpose is to send the GEDCOM together with its linked media in one package.

What is the official media type (MIME type) for .GDZ?

application/vnd.familysearch.gedcom+zip (GEDZIP), as listed in the IANA Media Types Registry.

Can I fix a .GDZ by renaming it to .ZIP?

Renaming does not repair a corrupt archive, but because GEDZIP is ZIP-based, some tools may recognize it more easily if you open it as a ZIP archive. The safer approach is to use a ZIP tool that can open the file regardless of extension.

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