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I have a file file.gz, when I try to unzip this file by using gunzip file.gz, it unzipped the file but only contains extracted and removes the file.gz file.

How can I unzip by keeping both unzipped file and zipped file?

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2 Answers 2

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Here are several alternatives:

  • Give gunzip the --keep option (version 1.6 or later)

    -k   --keep
            Keep (don't delete) input files during compression or decompression.

    gunzip -k file.gz

  • Pass the file to gunzip as stdin

    gunzip < file.gz > file

  • Use zcat (or, on older systems, gzcat)

    zcat file.gz > file
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  • 7
    Where do I get a version of gunzip with -k or --keep? I'm using version 1.5 in Gentoo and it has no such option. Commented Sep 18, 2014 at 22:02
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    @PavelŠimerda It was added in version 1.6. I've amended my answer. Thanks. Commented Sep 18, 2014 at 22:15
  • Thanks a lot! With the other option this is now the best answer. Commented Sep 18, 2014 at 22:21
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    @PavelŠimerda If you need --keep but don't have it, just make a copy of file.gz first. Commented Aug 19, 2015 at 16:33
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    gunzip -c file.gz > file or zcat file.gz > file also work. superuser.com/questions/45650/… Commented May 1, 2017 at 14:38
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Without requiring a temporary file:

 zcat somefile.gz > somefile
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    This also works great if you want to pipe the output to another command with buffering without deleting the file zcat file.sql.gz | mysql --max_allowed_packet=32M db Commented Sep 19, 2021 at 19:25

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