DEB to TAR Converter

Convert DEB to TAR online for free. Fast, secure, and high-quality conversion with no sign-up or software required.

Free to useNo file stored beyond 1 hourEncrypted over TLS 1.2/1.3No watermarks

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Maximum file size is 1GB

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How it works

Three steps to your converted file

Everything happens in your browser tab - upload, pick a format, download. The heavy lifting runs on our servers.

Upload your file

Drag and drop, click to browse, or paste a URL. Batches take up to 20 files at once - 230+ input formats across video, audio, image, document, and archive types.

Choose an output format

Pick from over a hundred output formats. Filter by category or search by name - every option is open to everyone, no account needed.

Convert & download

Hit Convert and grab your download link moments later. Originals are erased when the job completes; results are cleared within about an hour.

What is a deb file?

The .deb format, or Debian Software Package, is a Unix archive format utilized for software distribution and installation on Debian-based Linux operating systems, including Ubuntu and Kali Linux. Structurally, it is a standard ar archive containing three required files: debian-binary (version identifier), control.tar (metadata, dependencies, and maintainer scripts), and data.tar (the installable filesystem payload). These internal tarballs are typically compressed using gzip (.gz), xz (.xz), or zstd algorithms. The format is managed by the dpkg package management system and adheres to the Debian Policy Manual, ensuring strict compliance with dependency resolution and filesystem hierarchy standards.

How to open a deb file

On native Debian-based Linux environments, .deb files are installed and managed using the Advanced Package Tool (apt) or the low-level dpkg command-line utility. For users on non-Linux operating systems like Windows or macOS, the file cannot be executed or installed but serves as a readable archive. In these contexts, file compression software such as 7-Zip (Windows) or The Unarchiver (macOS) can open the outer ar container to extract and inspect the internal control and data archives.

deb Technical Info

Full Name: Debian Software Package
Developed By: The Debian Project
Initial Release: 1993
MIME Type: application/vnd.debian.binary-package

What is a TAR file?

The TAR (Tape Archive) format is a file format standardized by POSIX.1-1988 and later POSIX.1-2001 (pax), originally developed for writing data to sequential I/O devices like magnetic tape drives. Unlike modern archive formats, TAR is purely a container format that concatenates multiple files into a single archive without native compression, preserving file system attributes such as user/group permissions, dates, and directory structures. It is frequently paired with compression utilities like Gzip or Bzip2 in Unix-like environments.

How to open a TAR file

Most Unix-based systems (Linux, macOS, BSD) include native support via the GNU Tar command-line utility. Windows does not natively support TAR extraction in versions prior to Windows 10 (Build 17063), requiring third-party tools. For cross-platform compatibility, 7-Zip and WinRAR are standard utilities for inspecting and extracting TAR containers.

TAR Technical Info

Full Name: Tape Archive
Developed By: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Initial Release: 1979
MIME Type: application/x-tar

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Why RunConvert

The fastest way to convert any file

Purpose-built for speed, privacy, and breadth of format support.

Convert DEB to TAR in seconds

Every DEB to TAR conversion runs on our servers, so your device stays fast and the output quality stays intact.

Fast, cloud-powered

No queue, no waiting. Files are processed on high-performance servers and returned in seconds, even for large files.

Secure & private

Encrypted in transit and never shared with anyone. Uploads are erased the moment your job completes, and results shortly after.

Free - no account needed

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Developer API

Convert DEB to TAR via API

Automate DEB to TAR conversions in three steps: create a job, upload your file, then poll for the result.

# 1. Create job
curl -X POST https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "tag": "deb-to-tar",
    "tasks": {
      "upload-file": {
        "operation": "import/upload"
      },
      "convert": {
        "operation": "convert",
        "input": "upload-file",
        "output_format": "tar"
      },
      "export-result": {
        "operation": "export/url",
        "input": "convert"
      }
    }
  }'

# 2. Upload your file (use upload_url from the response)
curl -X PUT "$UPLOAD_URL" --upload-file input.deb

# 3. Poll for result
curl https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs/$JOB_ID?include=tasks \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your RunConvert API key. Get your free API key at runconvert.com/api.