XZ files are XZ compressed files, and whether you’re encountering difficulties opening one or simply curious about its contents, we’re here to clarify the characteristics of these files and recommend software capable of handling XZ files.

What is an XZ file?

An .XZ file serves as an XZ-compressed file, utilizing the LZMA2 compression algorithm. The XZ file extension is analogous to the compression algorithm found in 7Z files used by 7-Zip. However, XZ files differ in that they are singular compressed files, as the XZ file format does not support archiving, i.e., bundling multiple files into one. In this aspect, it resembles BZIP2 or Z files, but XZ boasts a superior compression ratio.

How to open XZ files

If you need to open an XZ file, we’ve identified four XZ openers compatible with this file type. These tools can assist in extracting and handling the contents of XZ files, allowing you to access the compressed data within.
Programs that open XZ compressed files
Bitberry File Opener
WinZip
WinRAR
7-Zip