Casual users who just need to extract files quickly without installing extra software.
Add the -C flag followed by the destination path: tar -xvzf yourfile.tar.gz -C C:\TargetFolder 2. Using Windows 11 File Explorer (Native) tar gz on windows
For the average Windows user, the built-in native support is sufficient for opening files. However, if you find yourself creating these archives or needing to manage different compression formats, installing 7-Zip is still a worthwhile addition to your toolkit. Casual users who just need to extract files
| Method | Best For... | Pros | Cons | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Casual users, one-off extractions. | No installation required. | Limited creation options; basic interface. | | 7-Zip | Everyone else. | High compression, context menu integration, free. | Creating .tar.gz requires a two-step process. | | WSL / CLI | Developers & SysAdmins. | Fast, scriptable, authentic Linux experience. | Requires command line knowledge. | However, if you find yourself creating these archives
# Inside WSL (Ubuntu, Debian, etc.) tar -xvzf /mnt/c/Users/YourName/archive.tar.gz -C /home/username/
Users who want more context menu control, better compression ratios, and the ability to create .tar.gz files easily via right-click.