All about BZ Files

The BZ file type is primarily associated with BZip2.

BZFile Extension BZ
 File extension: BZ
File type:  Bzip compressed file

What is a BZ file?

BZ files mostly belong to BZip2 by BZip2. The BZ extension is used to compress file archives. The BZ format can only provide single-file compression and lacks additional encryption or archiving features.

  • Efficiency: The coding algorithm used to compress files with this extension mainly incorporates the Burrows-Wheeler algorithm, with the Run-Length Encoding (RLE) added to it. This allows better compression ratios than alternatives such as Gzip. However, BZ does not provide the efficiency of other file extensions. While it lacks modern compression algorithms, like ones included in RAR files, the BZ format serves as a middle ground between the faster ZIP format and the more powerful 7Z.

  • Adoption: BZ is widely available across numerous operating systems and platforms. There are a variety of decompression utilities that can extract BZ files on Linux, Windows and MacOS. You can open a BZ file using programs such as BunZip2 or BZip2.

How to open a BZ file

You need a suitable software like BZip2 to open a BZ 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 BZ file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a BZ file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online BZ File Viewer

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

If you want to extract texts from BZ file or capture a screenshot, you can use our free Online BZ File Viewer:
  1. To do so, click the "Choose your .bz file to view" button above.
  2. Your BZ file will then be displayed in the browser.
  3. Now click on "Save as..." at the top of the page.
  4. Then choose the file format (e.g. JPG, PDF, DOCX, TXT, ...) you want.
  5. Your file will be converted and downloaded.

Programs that open and convert BZ files:

  1. BZip2 by BZip2
    See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. BZ files are often referred to as BZip2 compresseds because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
  2. 7-Zip (Bzip compressed file) by Igor Pavlov
    7-ZIP is a compressing and archiving utility for free that can combine several files into a much smaller one. This open-source application supports various packing and extraction formats and has a built-in file manager. 7-Zip allows opening EXE files as archives and decompressing them without having to launch first. 7-Zip uses the BZ format to archive data. This file format is classified as Compressed. Related links: 7-Zip Wikipedia Page, Download 7-Zip, https://www.winzip.com/
  3. 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. Pzip uses the BZ extension for its compressed files. This file format is classified as Compressed. Related links: PeaZip Wikipedia Page, PeaZip
  4. 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. This file format is classified as Compressed. Related links: The Unarchiver Wikipedia Page
  5. WinRAR (Bzip compressed file) by WinRar
    WinRAR is a file archiving program that compresses files and groups them into one single archive. It supports all popular compression formats and encrypts archives with 256 bit of password encryption. WinRAR is able to compress executable, multimedia and library files with efficiency. WinRAR can decompress the BZ format and use it to archive data. This file format is classified as Compressed. Related links: WinRAR Wikipedia Page
  6. WinZip (Bzip compressed file) by Corel
    WinZip is a file compressing and archiving program for Windows. This program grants users to compress and extract file archives and also create data backups. It has support for various compressed file formats.WinZip has AES encryption and password protection security consolidated to make data encryption possible and secure. WinZip uses the BZ extension to compress and archive data. This file format is classified as Compressed. Related links: WinZip Wikipedia Page, A Guide to File Compression by WinZip

Technical Data for BZ File Extension

File classification:
Compressed
Related files:
bz2, ubz, gz, mbz, jpg, tbz, bzip
Related links:
BZip2 Wikipedia Page, Download BZip2
Mime type:
application/x-bzip

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: PABZIP2, FileType: PowerArchiver BZIP File, AppName: The most powerful Freeware Archive Utility
EXEFile: POWERARC.EXE
ProgramID: StuffItEncoded, FileType: Aladdin Encoded File
ProgramID: WinRAR, FileType: WinRAR archive, AppName: WinRAR archiver
EXEFile: WinRAR.exe
ProgramID: CDisplayZipArchive
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\CDisplay\CDISPLAY.EXE %1
ProgramID: Office.Binder.Wizard
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office\BINDER.EXE -nologo %1
ProgramID: Office.Binder.Wizard.9
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office10\UNBIND.EXE %1
ProgramID: Office.Binder.Wizard.9
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\UNBIND.EXE %1
ProgramID: Office.Binder.Wizard.9
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\msoffice\OFFICE11\UNBIND.EXE %1
ProgramID: PABZIP2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PowerArchiver\POWERARC.EXE %1
ProgramID: sbzFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ArcSoft\ShowBiz\showbiz.exe %1
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: pkzipfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PKWARE\PKZIPW\PKZIPW.exe %1
ProgramID: StuffItEncoded
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WinZip\winzip32.exe %1
ProgramID: PABZIP2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%r\PowerArchiver\POWERARC.EXE %1
ProgramID: StuffIt.Compressed.File.Expand
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Aladdin Systems\StuffIt 7.5\stuffit.exe -expand %1 -from_shell
ProgramID: MimarSinan Codex
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /idlist,%I,%L
ProgramID: uz.bz
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ULTIMA~1\uzip.exe
ProgramID: PABZIP2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Accessories\PowerArchiver\POWERARC.EXE
ProgramID: UltimateZip
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\UltimateZip 2.7\uzip.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
Show all 28 listingsTo Top

a bz 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 BZ files

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