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How to open .USTAR files on Mac

To open .USTAR files on Mac, open Terminal and extract it with: tar -xf yourfile.ustar (choose a destination folder first if needed).

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Open Terminal and extract it with: tar -xf yourfile.ustar (choose a destination folder first if needed).
  2. If you prefer a GUI, use an archive utility that supports tar archives and extract the file.

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.

  1. Open it explicitly as a tar archive in a tar-capable tool, or use command-line extraction (tar -xf).
  2. 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.

  1. Re-download or re-copy the file and try extraction again.
  2. 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).

  1. Try extracting with a different tar tool (GNU tar or bsdtar) and compare results.
  2. 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.

  1. Inspect the extracted files and open them based on their actual extensions and content.
  2. 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.

Back to .USTAR extension page