.bz2
Archives · application/x-bzip2
Opens with
Several files bundled into one and squeezed smaller. Until you extract it, you only see the list of what is inside.
| MIME type | application/x-bzip2 |
|---|---|
| Category | Archives |
| Opens in a browser | No |
| Plain text | No |
| Registered type | Unofficial (x-) |
How to read this
- An extension is a label, not the contents. Rename a file to .png and if the bytes inside are JPEG, it is still a JPEG.
- A MIME type is how the internet names a file kind. Browsers look at that value, not the extension, to decide whether to display or download.
- A MIME type starting with x- was never registered as a standard. Plenty are in wide use, but they are not official names.
- Video extensions name a container. The same .mp4 may play on one device and not another, depending on the codec inside.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What is a .bz2 file?
It belongs to the archives category and its MIME type is application/x-bzip2. The contents are binary, so opening it in a text editor shows garbage.
Q. What opens a .bz2 file?
Terminal, 7-Zip, Keka all handle it. In a browser it does not display — the browser downloads it instead.
Q. What is the MIME type of .bz2?
application/x-bzip2. The first half, application, names the broad kind; the second half, x-bzip2, names the exact format. It starts with x-, which means it was never registered as a standard.
Q. Can I convert a .bz2 file to another format?
Yes — open it and re-save through a converter. Renaming alone changes only the label; the bytes stay put, and programs that check the real format may refuse to open it.
Q. My .bz2 file will not open.
First check that Terminal is installed. If it still fails, the download may have been cut short, or the file may only be named .bz2 while holding a different format inside.