Convert files online
Convert files online
When you need TXZ to TBZ2
TXZ uses xz - a modern algorithm that appeared after bzip2 and is not supported everywhere. TBZ2 (TAR.BZ2) is the classic Unix archive format with bzip2, present on systems since the late 1990s. If you need to pass an archive to an old server, an embedded device, or a system without xz support, TBZ2 is a more reliable choice.
Another reason for conversion is corporate scripts and automation systems configured to receive tar.bz2 specifically. In such cases, repacking the archive is simpler than changing the script.
File contents do not change when repacking. Linux attributes are preserved - permissions, owner identifiers, and symbolic and hard links.
What changes after conversion
TBZ2 compresses more tightly than gzip but usually less tightly than xz. So after converting from TXZ to TBZ2 the archive will be slightly larger - not as much as when moving to TGZ, but the difference will be there. For already-compressed media files - photos, video - the difference is minimal.
TBZ2 extraction is generally slower than TGZ and roughly comparable to TXZ or slower. The main advantage of TBZ2 is wide compatibility in the Unix world without requiring xz.
If the TXZ archive is password-protected, the password will be needed to access the contents.
When this is especially useful
- The archive needs to go to an old Linux server or Unix system without the xz utility.
- A corporate automation system or backup script expects tar.bz2 specifically.
- An embedded device or minimal image supports bzip2 but not xz.
- Slightly better compression than TGZ is needed in a compatible environment.
Common tasks and search situations
- convert tar.xz to tar.bz2 online;
- txz to tbz2 free;
- tar.xz to tar.bz2 without software;
- tar xz to tbz2 for old server;
- txz won't open - bzip2 script;
- repack tar.xz to bzip2 compatible format;
- txz to tbz2 for corporate backup.
What to check before conversion
- Make sure the target system supports bzip2 - that is the point of the conversion.
- Note that TBZ2 will be slightly larger than TXZ - bzip2 compresses less tightly than xz.
- Check the password if the archive is protected.
- After conversion, verify that all needed files are present.
Format and conversion limits
bzip2 compresses less tightly than xz - that is the main trade-off when switching. For text and code the size difference will be noticeable, though less than when moving to gzip.
TBZ2 extraction may be slower than TXZ - bzip2 is not the fastest algorithm. If speed matters, consider TGZ.
If the original TXZ is damaged, some data may not extract.
Related tasks
For maximum compatibility and fast extraction in a Unix environment, see TXZ to TGZ. If the archive needs to open without software on Windows or macOS, see TXZ to ZIP. To strip compression entirely and get an intermediate TAR, use TXZ to TAR.
What is TXZ to TBZ2 conversion used for
Old server without xz
Linux servers from the 2000s and old Unix systems often have bzip2 but not xz. TBZ2 will be understood without any extra configuration.
Corporate script expecting tar.bz2
If an automation system or backup script expects tar.bz2, repacking solves the problem without changing the script.
Embedded devices with bzip2
Routers, NAS devices, and IoT devices running busybox often support bzip2 but not always xz.
Intermediate compression better than gzip
When TGZ compresses too loosely for the available environment but TXZ is not supported, TBZ2 is a reasonable compromise.
Tips for converting TXZ to TBZ2
TBZ2 will be slightly larger than TXZ
bzip2 compresses less tightly than xz. If space savings matter and the system supports xz, it is better to keep TXZ.
Extraction is slower than TGZ
bzip2 puts more load on the processor during extraction. On weak devices, opening a large archive will take noticeable time.
Check the password in advance
If the archive is protected, make sure you know the password. Conversion cannot proceed without it.