# XZ Viewer

Free online XZ viewer. Open .xz and .txz archives in your browser to list contents — no upload, no extraction.

> Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/viewers/xz

- **Category:** Archives

- **Supported formats:** .xz, .txz

## Overview

This XZ viewer reads XZ-compressed archives directly in your browser. XZ (.xz) uses the LZMA2 algorithm to deliver some of the best compression ratios of any mainstream format, and is now the default for Linux kernel source, package managers and many distributions. Pick a sample or choose your own .xz file to browse its contents instantly, with no upload.

## When to use

- You received an .xz or .tar.xz file and want to inspect it without extracting.
- You need a private preview of an XZ-compressed software download.
- You want to check a .txz package on a machine without xz installed.

## How it works

- Select a built-in sample archive or choose your own .xz / .txz file.
- The viewer reads the archive's contents in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
- Browse the file list and inspect entry names and sizes.

## Use cases

- Checking .tar.xz Linux kernel and package sources.
- Previewing XZ-compressed data archives.
- Verifying .txz downloads before extraction.

## Samples

- **Sample Archive**: A XZ compressed archive sample for in-browser preview

## Frequently asked questions

### Why are XZ files so small?

XZ uses the LZMA2 algorithm, which achieves excellent compression ratios — often better than both GZip and BZip2 — making it the default for Linux distributions and large software packages.

### What is the difference between .xz and .txz?

.txz is shorthand for .tar.xz — a TAR archive compressed with XZ/LZMA2. The viewer handles both and lists the bundled files.

### Are my XZ files uploaded?

No. Files you open from your device stay on your device and are read locally. Only the public sample archive is requested from the server.

## Related content

- [ZIP Viewer](https://elysiatools.com/en/viewers/zip): Open and preview ZIP archives (.zip, .zipx) directly in your browser — list contents without uploading or extracting.
- [7Z Viewer](https://elysiatools.com/en/viewers/7z): Open and preview 7Z archives (.7z) directly in your browser — list contents without uploading or extracting.
- [RAR Viewer](https://elysiatools.com/en/viewers/rar): Open and preview RAR archives (.rar, .cbr) directly in your browser — list contents without uploading or extracting.
- [TAR Viewer](https://elysiatools.com/en/viewers/tar): Open and preview TAR archives (.tar, .tgz) directly in your browser — list contents without uploading or extracting.
- [GZ Viewer](https://elysiatools.com/en/viewers/gz): Open and preview GZip archives (.gz, .gzip) directly in your browser — list contents without uploading or extracting.
- [BZ2 Viewer](https://elysiatools.com/en/viewers/bz2): Open and preview BZip2 archives (.bz2, .bzip2, .tbz, .tbz2) directly in your browser — list contents without uploading or extracting.