Extract text from GNU tar archives (GNUTAR)
To convert GNUTAR archives to another format, you need GNU tar or other Compressed software.
To convert other file formats to the "Archive Container File" file type, you need software like GNU tar or a similar tool.
A .GNUTAR file is an archive created by the GNU version of the tar utility. It groups multiple files and directories into a single container file for easier distribution and backup, primarily on Unix-like operating systems. You can open and extract these archives using 7-Zip, WinRAR, or the native macOS Archive Utility. You can read more about the format on Wikipedia.
The major disadvantage of the .GNUTAR format is that it only archives data; it does not inherently compress it. This means the resulting files can be massive, consuming unnecessary disk space and bandwidth. Furthermore, older Windows operating systems lack native support for tar archives, confusing users who expect a standard, easy-to-open ZIP file.
Users typically need to convert .GNUTAR to ZIP or 7Z to reduce file size and ensure broad compatibility across all devices. Extracting the archive's contents into individual files is also a primary goal.
Archives like .GNUTAR can be tricky to process online if they exceed standard file size limits.
Convert.Guru analyzes your GNUTAR file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
If you want to convert GNUTAR file to ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, GZ, BZ2, XZ, LZMA, CAB, ACE, ARJ or LHA, you can use GNU tar or similar software from the "Data Archiving and Distribution" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert XXE, 7Z, Z, PAK, LHA, DEB, UUE, TAR, LZH, ZIP, PKG or RAR files to GNUTAR, try GNU tar or another comparable tool in the "Data Archiving and Distribution" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our GNUTAR converter.