What is a BZ file?
A .BZ file is usually a compressed archive. It is most often created using the bzip2 compression algorithm. Users create these files to reduce the size of large files or to bundle multiple files together for easier sharing. However, a .BZ file has multiple possible meanings. It is sometimes a renamed .RAR or .7Z archive. In specific cases, it can also store game databases for titles like MegaGlest or log data for BlackBerry mobile devices.
How to open BZ files?
You can open standard .BZ archives using desktop tools like 7-Zip or WinRAR on Windows. On macOS and Linux systems, you can extract them using the built-in `bzip2` command-line tool. Because a .BZ file can contain different underlying formats, viewer.online/bz analyzes .BZ files to identify their exact format and creator software, shows which programs can open the file, and usually previews it.
Best practices and troubleshooting
Always verify the source of a .BZ file before extracting it. Sometimes, malicious files are hidden inside mislabeled archives to bypass basic security filters. If standard extraction tools fail to open your file, it might be a renamed archive or a specific database file. You can easily change your archive into a more accessible format. We recommend using convert.guru to convert .BZ files to standard .ZIP or .TAR.GZ archives.
Software and tools
Popular desktop applications for managing .BZ files include 7-Zip for Windows and The Unarchiver for macOS. Linux systems support these files natively through the terminal using standard archive tools.
Summary
viewer.online/bz directly opens and previews .BZ files in the browser, eliminating the need to install software or troubleshoot compatibility issues.