ZipCombinerThe short answer: choose .zip
A .zip opens with a double-click on every Mac and every Windows PC, each part of the export opens on its own, and you can look inside before extracting anything. Google's own note on the option says zip files open on almost any computer. ZipCombiner works with .zip, so it can extract every part into one folder in one go and put your Google Photos dates and places back.
What .tgz is
A .tgz (also written .tar.gz) is a tar archive compressed with gzip, the usual format on Linux. Takeout splits it into parts at the same size limit as zips. Archive Utility on a Mac opens it, and so does File Explorer on Windows 11 version 23H2 and later; older versions of Windows need an app such as 7-Zip, which unpacks it in two steps (first the .tgz, then the .tar inside). A .tgz has no table of contents, so you can't see what's inside without unpacking it.
| .zip | .tgz | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens on a Mac | Yes, double-click | Yes, double-click |
| Opens on Windows | Yes, built in | Windows 11 23H2 and later, or 7-Zip |
| See what's inside first | Yes | No |
| All parts into one folder with ZipCombiner | Yes | No |
| Download size | About the same | About the same |
The sizes come out about the same because photos and videos are already compressed; neither format shrinks them much.
Set up the export with .zip
- Go to takeout.google.com, choose what to export (for photos, click Deselect all and tick Google Photos), then click Next step.
- Choose Export once. Under File type & size, choose .zip and a file size (10 GB is a good middle ground).
- Click Create export. Google emails you when it's ready; download every part into the same folder.
Which file size?
Takeout offers 1, 2, 4, 10 and 50 GB per file. Bigger files mean fewer downloads, but when one fails, there's more to download again. On a steady connection, 10 GB is a good middle ground; 50 GB suits a fast, reliable connection; 2 GB is the safer choice when downloads keep failing.
Already have .tgz files?
No need to export again. Extract every .tgz into the same place: double-click each one on a Mac, or open each in File Explorer (Windows 11 23H2 or later) or 7-Zip. Each part unpacks into its own Takeout folder, so merge those folders afterwards; that extra step is the main reason to prefer .zip next time. For Google Photos, then open ZipCombiner, click Restore Google Photos Metadata… and choose the merged folder to put the dates and places back.
Questions
Is .tgz better quality than .zip?
No. Both hold exactly the same files, and neither changes your photos or videos.
Which one is smaller?
They come out about the same. Photos and videos are already compressed, so neither format makes them much smaller.
Can I change the file type after the export is made?
No. Create a new export and choose .zip; your data is still in your Google account.
Can ZipCombiner open .tgz files?
No, it works with .zip files. Its photo-info restore works on any Takeout folder that's already extracted, including one that came from .tgz files.