Host an XZ file and share it as a link
Put an xz-compressed file online at its own address — the best compression ratio of the common Unix formats.
Drop your XZ file here
Any other file works too — up to 25.0 MB, or 100.0 MB for a whole site
Free to use. Your XZ file is live at your-name.99helpers.site in about ten seconds.
What is a .xz file?
XZ uses LZMA2 compression — the same family as 7-Zip — and produces the smallest files of the common Unix compression formats, typically 20–30% smaller than gzip. It has become the default for Linux kernel and distribution source releases.
What people use XZ files for
- Linux kernel and distribution source releases
- Large software distributions
- Backups where size matters
- Scientific data archives
What opens a XZ file
- xz, on every modern Unix-like system
- 7-Zip on Windows
- macOS with Homebrew or The Unarchiver
- Every language, via an lzma library
How to host a XZ file
- 1
Drop your XZ file in
Drag it onto the box at the top of this page, or click to choose it. Files up to 25 MB are supported, and nothing is uploaded until you publish.
- 2
Pick an address
Type a name and we'll tell you straight away whether it's free. That becomes the link: source-release.99helpers.site
- 3
Publish and share
Create a free account — that step exists so the file is yours to update, replace or delete — and the link is live within seconds.
The same three steps work for any file — see how file hosting works on 99helpers.com.
What happens when someone opens the link
The file downloads. Linux decompresses it natively; macOS and Windows may need an extra tool.
Why host a XZ file instead of emailing it?
XZ is used for files large enough that every megabyte counts. A direct link downloads at full speed with no expiry.
Worth knowing before you publish
- Compression is slow at high settings; decompression is fast, which suits distribute-once, download-often files.
- Usually paired with tar as .tar.xz.
- macOS doesn't unpack .xz natively — mention that to recipients.
XZ hosting questions
- xz or gzip?
- xz produces noticeably smaller files and decompresses quickly, but compresses slowly. gzip is faster and more universally handled out of the box.
- How do I open .xz on macOS?
- The Unarchiver, or xz via Homebrew. Unlike gzip, it isn't handled natively by Finder.
- Why do Linux distributions use it?
- Best compression ratio of the standard formats, with fast decompression — ideal for files downloaded far more often than they're created.
Put your XZ file online now
It takes about ten seconds, and you only make an account once the file is ready to go live.
Hosting guides for related formats
XZ is one of over 211 formats you can host — see free file hosting for any file type for the full list, or read the hosting guides for other file types.