How to open .USTAR files on iOS
To open .USTAR files on iOS, iOS may not reliably extract uncommon tar extensions; if the Files app can’t open it, transfer the .ustar file to a desktop system and extract it with tar/bsdtar.
Step-by-step instructions
- iOS may not reliably extract uncommon tar extensions; if the Files app can’t open it, transfer the .ustar file to a desktop system and extract it with tar/bsdtar.
Common issues
The .USTAR file won’t open in my archive app
Some apps only recognize common extensions like .tar, or they don’t support tar/ustar well even if they support ZIP/RAR.
- Open it explicitly as a tar archive in a tar-capable tool, or use command-line extraction (tar -xf).
- If your app only keys off extensions, keep the file content unchanged and try opening it via the app’s File > Open dialog (rather than double-clicking).
Extraction fails or reports a corrupted archive
The download may be incomplete, or the archive may use features your tool doesn’t handle well.
- Re-download or re-copy the file and try extraction again.
- Try a different implementation (GNU tar vs bsdtar/libarchive) to see if one handles the archive better.
Files extract but names/paths look wrong
Tar archives can contain long paths, special entries, or metadata that different tar readers interpret differently (including ustar vs newer tar variants such as pax).
- Try extracting with a different tar tool (GNU tar or bsdtar) and compare results.
- Extract into an empty folder and review the resulting directory structure before moving files into important locations.
After extracting, I’m not sure what to open
USTAR is just a container; the real file types are inside it.
- Inspect the extracted files and open them based on their actual extensions and content.
- If there’s no extension, use your OS file information tools or open with a text editor to identify the content safely.
Security note
Be cautious when extracting archives from untrusted sources: tar/ustar archives can contain executable files or scripts that are harmless until you run them, but could be malicious if executed.