What is a BZ2 file?
BZ2 — bzip2
Use the format BZ2
A concrete example
Retrieve a TAR compressed in .tar.bz2 before reorganizing it.
Useful checks
BZ2 refers to stream compression. An isolated .bz2 file is not necessarily an archive containing folders.
Choose a conversion
Keep the original and open the result in the software or on the device that will need to use it.
Your questions about this format
Why did I receive a TAR.GZ file?
Gzip compresses a stream, while TAR groups the files of a folder. The engine therefore combines the two to preserve the contents of a multi-part archive. Open the TAR.GZ with compatible software, then check the extracted files.
Does converting an archive change the documents inside?
The goal is to change their container, not to convert each document. A PDF in an archive remains a PDF. To change its format, extract it and then use the Documents theme.
Will a ZIP archive necessarily be smaller?
No. JPEG photos, videos, or already compressed archives may shrink very little. Compare the size and prioritize especially the format that your recipient knows how to open.
What to do with a protected or damaged archive?
The form does not ask for a password. Unlock your archive locally if you are allowed to, then try again with a copy. If it is damaged, first check that your local software can extract the files; paying does not repair an unreadable archive.
What is it?
Bzip2 compresses better than gzip — typically 10 to 20% better — at the cost of noticeably slower speed. That's the trade-off it offers: time in exchange for space.
Like gzip, it only handles one file at a time, which is why .tar.bz2 archives pair it with TAR.
History & origin
Julian Seward released bzip2 in 1996, building on an ingenious method that rearranges data to make it more compressible before the actual compression step.
It had its heyday in Linux distributions during the 2000s, before being overtaken by the more efficient xz.
Why it is useful
Better compression than gzip, with an open and well-established format.
It's available on every Unix system without needing to install anything.
Limits & drawbacks
Slow, both when compressing and decompressing.
It's now squeezed between gzip, which is faster, and xz, which compresses better — leaving it without a clear niche of its own.
Practical tips
Convert your .bz2 files to ZIP for sharing, or to 7Z for the tightest possible archiving.
There's no longer any good reason to pick this format for new archives.
Convert your BZ2 in seconds, on our secure servers in France.
Convert a BZ2