Opening BZ2 Files

The BZ2 file type is primarily associated with Bzip 2.

BZ2	File extension: BZ2
	File type:	Bzip compressed file

What is a BZ2 file?

BZ2 files mostly belong to Bzip 2 by BZip2. The BZ2 extension is used for compressing files to reduce the disk space they utilize.

Primary uses: This format's encoding algorithm is a mix of the Burrows-Wheeler compression algorithm and the Run-Length Encoding (RLE) to achieve high levels of compression. BZ2 is mostly used for Linux software distributions because of the volume of storage it can save. BZ2 has been open to the public since 1990 and is widely used even today. The BZ2 format is preferred over extensions such as GZIP because it can produce smaller files, in spite of taking longer to compress.

Adoption: Though the BZ2 format is primarily found on UNIX-based systems, it has been adopted by other operating systems like Windows, Linux, MacOS, and Android, with the help of extracting utilities. Programs like BZip2 can be used on both Linux and MacOS and may be compiled on Windows. File Viewer For Android works for Android based systems.

How can I open a BZ2 file?

You need a suitable software like Bzip 2 to open a BZ2 file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your BZ2 file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a BZ2 file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online BZ2 File Viewer

Choose your .bz2 file to view

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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How to extract texts from BZ2 files or capture a screenshot to PDF, JPG, DOCX, TXT, ...

If you want to extract texts from BZ2 file or capture a screenshot, you can use our free Online BZ2 File Viewer:

To do so, click the "Choose your .bz2 file to view" button above.
After your file is opened in browser,
click "Save as..." in the menu.
Then choose the file format (e.g. JPG, PDF, DOCX, TXT, ...) you want.
Download the converted file.

Programs that open and convert BZ2 files:

Bzip 2 by BZip2
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. BZ2 files are often referred to as Bzip 2 compresseds because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
PeaZip (Bzip compressed file) by PeaZip
PeaZip is a free compressing and decompressing program developed by Giorgio Tani. It supports several compression extensions, with a special feature of handling open-formats. Other than archiving and extracting PeaZip also allows the user to change the type of file, set size limits and encrypt data. PeaZip is available on Windows, Linux and BSD. BZIP2 uses the BZ extension for its compressed files. This file format is classified as Compressed. Related links: PeaZip Wikipedia Page, PeaZip
RAR (Bzip compressed file) by WinRar
RAR is a decompression utility for Android devices. It enables archiving, managing, extracting and exploring through compressed files. RAR also lets users repair ZIp and RAR files that are damaged encrypt then with a password. This program embeds error checking mechanisms on each file that enable users to verify the integrity of the files. RAR uses the BZip2 extension for archiving data. This file format is classified as Compressed. Related links: Download RAR for Android on Google Play, WinRAR Wikipedia Page
The Unarchiver (Bzip compressed file) by The Unarchiver
The Unarchiver is a propriety freeware data extracting program adapted by MacOS based systems. It supports a variety of compressing formats and even open archives that have non-english characters in their filename. The Unarchiver does not enable compressing files and requires MacOS LION X or later versions. The Unarchiver uses the BZip2 extension on compressed file archives. This file format is classified as Compressed. Related links: The Unarchiver Wikipedia Page
ZPoc Christian Music Networks (user data file) by ZPoc
ZPoC Christian Music Network is a file sharing client that was created specifically for fans of Christian music. The client has support for chat. ZpoC uses the BZip2 extension for storing user data. This file format is classified as Data.

BZ2 file format:

To find out what program is needed to open BZ2 files, you need to determine the file format. The file format can be deduced from the file extension and the signature. However, different programs can use the same file extension, and file extensions can be assigned incorrectly. Exact knowledge of the format is therefore important in order to solve problems occurring in files. Our analysis of the BZ2 files produces the following result:

The BZ2 extension is quite commonly used. The file itself mainly uses a special format. The file formats most commonly found in BZ2 files are:

96% of all BZ2 files are bzip2 compressed archive files, which are based on the BZ2 file format. The BZ2 format is used by the bzip2 command in Linux to compress and decompress files. These files contain neither text nor words, but only data. The files are on average 13 MB in size and range from 39 KB to 200 MB. This file type is based on cutting-edge technology. Several words can almost always be found in the files, e.g. BZh91AY&SY. These files are often associated with xampp, linux, firefox, installer, snapshot, data, ffmpeg, latest and lang.

The remaining 4% of all BZ2 files are files with no common format. Sometimes used for cgminer, anki, year, testdisk, origin or train. If you want to find out what your BZ2 file contains, drag and drop it onto this page.

Technical Data for BZ2 File Extension

File classification:

Compressed

Related files:

b2z, dem, bz, bzip2, brz, tar, grb, ttl, bv2, bs2, tbz2, fmi, tql, bzip, lrz, bn2, 3_dpo, gph, osm, n3

Related links:

BZip2 Wikipedia Page, Download BZip2

Mime type:

application/x-bzip2, application/vnd.openstreetmap.data+xml

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: BZip2-Archiv, FileType: BZip2 archive, AppName: WinAce Archiver v2.5
EXEFile: WinAce.exe

ProgramID: File.Bz2, FileType: ZipGenius Bz2 File, AppName: zipgenius

ProgramID: File.Bz2, FileType: ZipGenius Bz2 File, AppName: ZipGenius 1.4 Service Release 3

ProgramID: PABZIP2, FileType: PowerArchiver BZIP File, AppName: The most powerful Freeware Archive Utility
EXEFile: POWERARC.EXE

ProgramID: StuffIt.Compressed.File.Expand, FileType: StuffIt Compressed File, AppName: StuffIt for Windows 8.0
EXEFile: stuffit.exe

ProgramID: StuffItEncoded, FileType: Aladdin Encoded File

ProgramID: WinRAR, FileType: WinRAR archive, AppName: WinRAR archiver
EXEFile: WinRAR.exe

ProgramID: 7-Zip.bz2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\7-Zip\7zFMn.exe %1

ProgramID: BZip2-Archiv
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WinAce\WinAce.exe %1

ProgramID: File.Bz2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ZipGenius 5\zipgenius.exe -open %1

ProgramID: PABZIP2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PowerArchiver\POWERARC.EXE %1

ProgramID: StuffIt.Compressed.File.Expand
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Aladdin Systems\StuffIt Standard\stuffit.exe -expand %1 -from_shell

ProgramID: StuffIt.Compressed.File.Expand
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Aladdin Systems\StuffIt\\stuffit.exe -expand %1 -from_shell -override_open_tutorial

ProgramID: WinRAR
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PACKER\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe %1

ProgramID: WinRAR
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WinRar\WinRAR.exe %1

ProgramID: WinRAR
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Zippers\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe %1

ProgramID: WinRAR
EXEFile: C:\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe %1

ProgramID: WinRAR
EXEFile: D:\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe %1

ProgramID: WinRAR
EXEFile: E:\WinRar 3.4\WinRAR.exe %1

ProgramID: WinRAR
EXEFile: F:\utils\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe %1

ProgramID: StuffItArchive
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Aladdin Systems\StuffIt 7.0\Expander\Expander.exe %1

ProgramID: File.Bz2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\!Ute\ZipGenius 5\zipgenius.exe -open %1

ProgramID: pkzipfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PKWARE\PKZIPW\PKZIPW.exe %1

ProgramID: StuffItArchive
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WinZip\winzip32.exe %1

ProgramID: StuffIt.Compressed.File.Expand
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Allume Systems\StuffIt\stuffit.exe -expand %1 -from_shell -override_open_tutorial

ProgramID: PABZIP2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%r\PowerArchiver\POWERARC.EXE %1

ProgramID: IZArc
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\IZARC\IZARC.EXE %1

ProgramID: ALZip.bz2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ESTsoft\ALZip\ALZip.exe %1

ProgramID: File.Bz2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ZipGenius 6\zipgenius.exe -open %1

ProgramID: QZ4..bz2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\QuickZip4\QuickZip.exe %1

ProgramID: Qzip.bz2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\QuickZip\Quickzip.exe %1

ProgramID: StuffIt.Compressed.File.Expand
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Aladdin Systems\StuffIt 7.5\stuffit.exe -expand %1 -from_shell

ProgramID: 7-Zip.bz2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\7-Zip\7zFM.exe %1

ProgramID: MimarSinan Codex
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /idlist,%I,%L

ProgramID: IZArcBZ2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\IZArc\IZArc.exe

ProgramID: TzBZ2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\TUGZip\TUGZip.exe

ProgramID: ICEOWSDoc
EXEFile: rundll32 %SystemRoot%\system32\ShellExt\IceGUI.dll,RouteTheCall

ProgramID: uz.bz2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ULTIMA~1\uzip.exe

ProgramID: PABZIP2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Accessories\PowerArchiver\POWERARC.EXE

ProgramID: BZip2-Archiv
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\WinAce.exe

ProgramID: UltimateZip
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\UltimateZip 2.7\uzip.exe

ProgramID: StuffIt.Compressed.File.Expand
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Smith Micro\StuffIt\stuffit.exe -expand -from_shell -override_open_tutorial

ProgramID: ACDSee 9.0.bz2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\9.0\ACDSeeQV.exe

ProgramID: BZip2-Archiv
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WinAce.exe

ProgramID: StuffItArchive
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Aladdin Systems\StuffIt 7.0.2\Expander\Expander.exe

ProgramID: pkzipfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\_WWWUT~1\Security\Mail\PKWARE\PKZIPW\PKZIPW.exe

ProgramID: StuffIt11.Archive.Open.Generic
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Smith Micro\StuffIt11\StuffIt11.exe -o

ProgramID: BZ2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PeaZip\PEAZIP.EXE

ProgramID: ACDSee 7.0.bz2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\7.0\ACDSee7.exe

ProgramID: IZArcBZ2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\IZArc\IZArc.exe

ProgramID: LhaplusArchive_bz2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Lhaplus\Lhaplus.exe

ProgramID: 7-Zip.bz2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Utilities\7-Zip\7zFM.exe

Show all 52 listings To Top

a bz2 Bzip compressed file is a special file format by BZip2 and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with BZ2 files

Associate the BZ2 file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open bzip compressed files. Because only the current version supports the latest BZ2 file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the BZip2 manufacturer website after an available Bzip 2 update.
To make sure that your BZ2 file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .BZ2 file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.