XZ File Extension

XZ Compressed Archive

File Type xz
Developer Tukaani
Popularity
4.5 (38 votes)
Application PeaZip
Category Compressed Files
Format Binary

What is a XZ file?

The XZ extension is related to XZ Compressed Archive and is classified in the Compressed Files category, which contains 820 files.

Tukaani Developers, the developer of the XZ Compressed Archive (XZ), has released file format and programs designed to handle them.

XZ file support extends to various operating systems, including Linux and Windows. There are 2 programs available to extract a XZ file, including popular tools like XZ Utils and PeaZip.

MIME types

application/x-xz

File Signature

HEX code: FD 37 7A 58 5A 00. ASCII code: 7zXZ.

Windows

PeaZip

Linux

XZ Utils

How to open a XZ file?

If you are having trouble opening a XZ file, it usually means the right software is not installed. Choose a program from the list that matches your operating system. Next, visit the official website of the developer, download the software, and install it on your device.

Thanks to their popularity, XZ Utils and PeaZip are often the go-to programs for managing XZ files. If you want the most recent release of PeaZip, head over to the Giorgio Tani site and download the version designed to run on all platforms.

After completing the installation, XZ files should be recognized by the system and linked to PeaZip.

Set PeaZip as your default XZ viewer

Set default app to open files on Mac

Right-click or Control + left-click on the desired XZ file to open a menu of available actions;
Choose "Open in Application" and click "Other";
In the lower section of the window, you’ll find the "Enable" menu, with "Recommended Programs" pre-selected as the default option;
Select "All Programs" in this menu, and then search for PeaZip. Check the box next to "Always open in app" to make sure it’s the default option.

Change a default app in Windows

To get started, right-click your XZ file, then choose "Open With" and select "Choose Another Application" from the context menu;
From the list of applications in the pop-up window, find and select PeaZip as your desired application;
Check the "Always use this app" checkbox, and then click "OK" to set your chosen app as the default for opening XZ files.

Solving Common XZ File Challenges

While XZ files can sometimes present difficulties, most problems can be resolved quickly with minor software modifications. Check the tips below to help solve them.

What Causes PeaZip to Crash Frequently?

Insufficient software updates are a likely cause of PeaZip crashes. Be sure to install the latest updates for Giorgio Tani products.

A simple restart of your computer can often fix many common problems, which is why it is the recommended first step before making any adjustments to your software settings.

How can I restore a damaged XZ file?

Start a data recovery program and open the damaged XZ file. Then, choose the "Repair" option from the menu. Allow the recovery process to complete, which will automatically repair the damaged compressed files.

How can I determine if my XZ file is damaged?

Characteristics of corrupted XZ compressed files can include:

PeaZip or other programs stop responding or crash when trying to handle the file;
Error notifications appear during file manipulation;
When opening the file, errors occur or the inability to access its contents;
Unexplained XZ file size inflation;
Editing the archive in XZ Utils is hampered by poor overall performance;

How to edit a XZ file?

To modify XZ files, you need to install special software that makes it possible to open and edit compressed files. Online XZ editors are more restricted compared to software designed for XZ Compressed Archive.

Best XZ Editor Software in 2026

Taking the above factors into account, we have selected a list of XZ editors currently available.

XZ Editor Software	Developer	Platforms	Overall Rating
XZ Utils	Tukaani Developers	Linux	4.5 out of 5 (39 reviews)

Convert files to and from XZ

If working with a XZ file is challenging, one solution is to convert it to formats like ZIP or other supported formats.

After converting a XZ file, some capabilities may be limited, but you can often convert it back to the original format.