MSI to TAR.GZ Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
TAR.GZ is what open-source projects and Linux servers expect to receive. If your files are still in MSI format, this page is the shortcut: MSI is the Windows Installer database: a COM-structured file holding the program files, registry entries and install logic of an application. Everything an installer would unpack lives inside it.
iLoveConverter processes everything locally on your computer, which makes it private and fast: no upload wait, no server storage, no limits. Add as many files as you like — batch conversion is built in.
How MSI compares to TAR.GZ
| MSI | TAR.GZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Storage + CAB payloads | gzip (DEFLATE) |
| Encryption | None ( DRM separately) | None |
| Bundling | COM structured storage | TAR bundle, single stream |
| Best for | Windows software distribution | Source releases and backups |
How to convert MSI to TAR.GZ
- 1
Select your files
Drag & drop your MSI files onto the area above, or click to browse. You can add multiple files at once for batch conversion.
- 2
Convert instantly
Click "Convert to TAR.GZ". The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly — no upload, no queue, no waiting.
- 3
Download results
Download each converted TAR.GZ file individually, or grab everything at once as a ZIP archive.
About the MSI format
MSI is the Windows Installer database: a COM-structured binary that holds every file, shortcut, registry entry and install sequence an application needs. Running the installer is one way in — extraction is the other, and it needs no Windows at all.
Extracting an MSI lays out its contents as files: binaries, DLLs, resources, even the install logic tables. Security teams audit them this way, IT departments pre-stage deployments this way, and curious users finally learn what "installing" actually does.
+ Strengths
- ✓Inspect installers without running them
- ✓Works cross-platform — no Windows needed
- ✓Files come out exactly as the installer would lay them
! Limitations
- −Registry and shortcut logic are not files
- −Large installers extract to large trees
- −Nested CAB payloads may need a second pass
About the TAR.GZ format
TAR.GZ is the classic Unix distribution shape: a TAR bundle squeezed through gzip (DEFLATE-based). Every Linux package of source code, every Apache tarball, every data-science dataset arrives this way. Decompression is a pipeline — untar the gzip stream — and the format is understood everywhere Unix ideas went.
gzip compresses the whole archive as one stream, which keeps ratio decent for text-heavy trees but means reaching file #400 requires decompressing the previous 399. Modern alternatives (zstd) are faster at similar ratios, yet tar.gz remains the safest common denominator.
+ Strengths
- ✓Universally understood on Unix-like systems
- ✓Good ratio for text and source trees
- ✓Preserves Unix permissions via TAR
! Limitations
- −Single stream — no random access
- −Slower than modern zstd
- −Two-step format (tar + gzip)
Why convert MSI to TAR.GZ?
Converting makes sense where the strengths of TAR.GZ meet what MSI cannot give you. Universally understood on Unix-like systems Meanwhile Registry and shortcut logic are not files One pass through the converter above puts your file on the right side of that trade-off.
Frequently asked questions
Is this MSI to TAR.GZ converter really free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily conversion limits. The site is supported by advertising.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your files never leave your device — that is what makes it instant and private.
Does it work on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android?
Yes. Anything with a modern browser works: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. No software installation is required.
Is there a file size limit for MSI to TAR.GZ?
The only limit is your device's memory, since nothing is uploaded. Files up to a few hundred megabytes work fine on a modern desktop browser; very large files simply take a little longer.
Is there a size limit for archive conversion?
There is no upload cap because nothing is uploaded — the practical limit is your device memory. A few hundred megabytes of unpacked content works comfortably on a modern computer.
What about folders and directory structure?
The full directory tree is preserved: folders stay folders, and deep paths arrive exactly as they were packed in the MSI file.