To convert CAB to TAR, select or drop your .cab file above, check that TAR is chosen as the output, and click Convert. Files up to 200 MB are converted right in your browser, so they never leave your device.
What is a CAB file?
CAB – Microsoft Cabinet archive. CAB (Cabinet) is the archive format Microsoft uses for Windows installers, updates and drivers.
CAB Converter →What is a TAR file?
TAR – Tape archive. TAR bundles files and folders into one archive without compressing them, keeping Unix permissions and timestamps. It is usually paired with a compressor such as gzip or xz.
TAR Converter →How to convert CAB to TAR
- Click Select File, or drop your .cab files anywhere on this page. You can add several at once.
- Check that TAR is chosen as the output format. On this page it is picked for you.
- Click Convert. When a file has to go to our server, the button says Upload and convert instead.
- Click Download next to each file when it's done.
CAB vs TAR: how they compare
| CAB | TAR | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Archive | Archive |
| Holds | Many files and folders | Many files and folders |
| Compression | MSZIP, LZX or Quantum | None |
| Encryption | None | None |
| Created by | Microsoft, 1990s | Unix, 1979 |
| Best for | Windows installers and drivers | Bundling folders on Linux and macOS |
Good to know
- TAR doesn't compress, so the TAR is usually bigger than the CAB it came from. Pick TAR.GZ or TAR.XZ for a smaller file.
- Symbolic links, hard links and special files (such as devices) are left out of the result for safety; the page tells you when it does this.
Frequently asked questions
Is converting CAB to TAR free?
Yes. Everyone gets 25 free credits a day, with no account needed. Conversions on our server use one credit per started minute of work, so most cost a single credit. Credits reset at midnight UTC.
Are my CAB files uploaded anywhere?
Files up to 200 MB never leave your device: ConvertKitty runs 7-Zip inside your browser. Only larger files, or formats your browser cannot handle, are sent to our server, over an encrypted connection, and deleted 72 hours after the conversion. The button says "Upload and convert" whenever that happens.
How large can the CAB file be?
Files up to 200 MB are converted right in your browser. Larger files, up to 1 GB, are converted on our server.
Will the folders inside my CAB be kept?
Yes. The TAR has the same folders and file names as the CAB. Only links and special files are left out, and the page tells you if it did that.
Can I convert several CAB files at once?
Yes. Add as many files as you like; they are converted one after another, and each one gets its own Download button.
Convert CAB to other formats
- CAB Converter
- CAB to ZIP Converter
- CAB to 7Z Converter
- CAB to TAR.GZ Converter
- CAB to TAR.BZ2 Converter
- CAB to TAR.XZ Converter
- CAB to RAR Converter
Convert other files to TAR
- Convert to TAR
- ZIP to TAR Converter
- RAR to TAR Converter
- 7Z to TAR Converter
- TAR.GZ to TAR Converter
- ISO to TAR Converter
- GZ to TAR Converter
- TGZ to TAR Converter
- TAR.XZ to TAR Converter
- JAR to TAR Converter
- TAR.BZ2 to TAR Converter
Just need the files inside?
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