How to Convert a TAR File to 7Z for a Smaller Archive
TAR archives don't compress on their own — converting to 7Z can shrink them significantly. Here's how, free.
Try it now: TAR to 7Z →
A plain TAR archive doesn't compress its contents by default, so it can end up much larger than necessary. Converting it to 7Z applies real compression on top, often shrinking the file substantially.
When you need TAR to 7Z conversion
- Shrinking a large, uncompressed TAR archive before storing or sending it
- Standardizing archives into 7Z for long-term storage efficiency
- Reducing upload time for a bulky TAR file
How to convert TAR to 7Z, step by step
- Open the TAR to 7Z converter.
- Upload the .tar file.
- Click convert — the archive is unpacked and recompressed using a real 7-Zip engine.
- Download the resulting .7z file.
Tips
- Expect a meaningfully smaller file in most cases, since TAR alone applies no compression — 7Z is a real step up in efficiency here.
- 7Z needs compatible software to open, unlike ZIP — check that whoever receives it can open 7Z files, or convert to ZIP instead.
- Need TAR back later? Use 7Z to TAR to convert in the other direction.
Common questions
Why is 7Z smaller than the original TAR? TAR just bundles files without compressing them; 7Z adds real compression (LZMA2) on top, which is where the size reduction comes from.
Is anything lost in the conversion? No — it's lossless; every file from the TAR is preserved exactly inside the 7Z.
Can I preview the TAR's contents before converting? Yes — use the TAR Extractor to look through it first.
Want a smaller archive? Convert TAR to 7Z for free →