How to open .UVZ files on Linux
To open .UVZ files on Linux, open the .uvz file with a ZIP-capable archive tool to inspect/extract contents (it is a ZIP-based container).
Step-by-step instructions
- Open the .uvz file with a ZIP-capable archive tool to inspect/extract contents (it is a ZIP-based container).
- If your desktop environment does not recognize .uvz, add a MIME association via the shared MIME-info mechanism (map *.uvz to application/vnd.dece.zip) so file managers handle it consistently.
Common issues
The file won’t open because the app doesn’t recognize .uvz
Many tools key off the filename extension; .uvz is uncommon even though it is ZIP-based, so some archive apps won’t offer to open it directly.
- Make a copy of the file and rename the copy from .uvz to .zip, then open the copy with a ZIP-capable tool.
- If you are on Linux, ensure *.uvz is associated with application/vnd.dece.zip via the shared MIME-info database so your file manager can pick an archive handler.
It extracts like a ZIP, but the result doesn’t ‘play’ or isn’t usable
A .uvz is not just arbitrary ZIP data; it is a DECE Media Package with a specific internal structure. Extracting may produce files that still require DECE/UltraViolet-aware software/workflows to interpret correctly.
- Verify that your goal is inspection/extraction vs. proper DECE package ingestion; for the latter you need tools/workflows that explicitly support the DECE Media Package specification.
- Use the DECE Media Package specification to understand the expected internal layout and metadata for troubleshooting.
MIME type is misdetected (treated as generic ZIP or unknown)
Some systems or applications may not include an up-to-date mapping for .uvz, so they may label it as a generic ZIP or as an unknown type, affecting how it opens or is shared.
- When configuring servers, email gateways, or file type rules, use application/vnd.dece.zip for .uvz when you need the specific vendor type.
- On Linux desktops, add/adjust a shared MIME-info rule so *.uvz maps to application/vnd.dece.zip.
Security note
.uvz is a ZIP-based container; like other archive formats, it can contain many files and nested data, so be cautious with unexpected .uvz files (they can hide content you did not intend to open).