How to Retrieve .BZ2 Files Lost in a System Failure

Have files been deleted due to a user’s error or software error? Have you formatted a disk by accident and need to know how to recover the files? Read our .BZ2 file recovery guide for Windows, MacOS, Android and IOS in 2025.

How to Retrieve .BZ2 Files Lost in a System Failure
Data Recovery Tool

What is a .BZ2 file?

Compressed archive created by bzip2, a file compression program often found on Unix-based systems; incorporates the Burrows-Wheeler compression algorithm as well as Run-Length Encoding (RLE) for high levels of compression; often used for Linux software package distributions.

What Are Common Causes of ".BZ2" Files Lost or Failure?

There can be several common causes of ".BZ2" files being lost or experiencing failure:

  1. Accidental deletion: The most common cause is accidental deletion by the user. This can happen when the user mistakenly deletes the ".BZ2" file or deletes the entire folder containing the file.
  2. File corruption: ".BZ2" files can get corrupted due to various reasons such as power outages, system crashes, or improper shutdowns. Corruption can render the file unreadable or inaccessible.
  3. Virus or malware attacks: Viruses or malware can infect and damage ".BZ2" files, leading to their loss or failure. These malicious programs can modify or delete the files, making them unusable.
  4. Storage media failure: If the storage device where the ".BZ2" file is stored fails or becomes damaged, it can result in the loss or failure of the file. This can occur due to physical damage, logical errors, or hardware malfunctions.
  5. Software or system errors: Errors in the software or operating system can cause ".BZ2" files to become lost or fail. This can happen due to bugs, compatibility issues, or improper handling of the files by the software.
  6. Human error: Human errors such as accidental formatting of the storage device, improper handling of files, or incorrectly transferring files can lead to the loss or failure of ".BZ2" files.
  7. File system errors: File system errors can occur due to disk errors, bad sectors, or file system corruption. These errors can cause the ".BZ2" files to become lost or inaccessible.

It is important to regularly back up important ".BZ2" files to minimize the risk of loss or failure. Additionally, using reliable antivirus software, maintaining a healthy storage device, and practicing safe file handling practices can help prevent these issues.

How to recover lost ".BZ2" files?

Sometimes while working with a computer, laptop or other stationary or mobile devices, you may encounter various bugs, freezes, hardware or software failures, even in spite of regular updates and junk cleaning. As a result, an important ".BZ2" file may be deleted.

Go to view
🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

By no means should you think that the only way to recover a ".BZ2" file is always to create it once more.

Use programs for recovering ".BZ2" files if a file was lost after accidental or deliberate deleting, formatting the memory card or the internal storage, cleaning the storage device, after a virus attack or a system failure.

Programs to recover ".BZ2" files

Looking for a way to get files back? In cases when files were deleted and they cannot be restored by using standard operating system tools, use Hetman Partition Recovery.

Partition Recovery™ 5.0
The tool recovers data from any devices, regardless of the cause of data loss.
Download

Follow the directions below:

  1. Download Hetman Partition Recovery, install and start the program.

  2. The program will automatically scan the computer and display all hard disks and removable drives connected to it, as well as physical and local disks.

    File Recovery Software

  3. Double-click on the disk from which you need to recover ".BZ2" files, and select analysis type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Analysis Type

  4. When the scanning is over, you will be shown the files for recovery.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Files that Can be Restored

  5. To find a file you need, use the program’s interface to open the folder it was deleted from, or go to the folder "Content-Aware Analysis" and select the required file type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Deep Scan

  6. Select the files you have been looking for and click "Recovery".

    File Recovery Software - Files List for Recovery

  7. Choose one of the methods for saving the files and recover them.

    Saving recovered files in Hetman Partition Recovery

How to open file with ".BZ2" extension?

Looking for how to open a stereo bzip2 Compressed File image file file?

Programs that open ".BZ2" files

Windows
File Viewer Plus File Viewer Plus
Corel WinZip 23 Corel WinZip 23
Smith Micro StuffIt Deluxe for Windows Smith Micro StuffIt Deluxe for Windows
WinRAR 5 WinRAR 5
PeaZip PeaZip
7-Zip 7-Zip
Mac
Apple Archive Utility Apple Archive Utility
Corel WinZip Mac 7 Corel WinZip Mac 7
Incredible Bee Archiver Incredible Bee Archiver
Smith Micro StuffIt Deluxe 16 Smith Micro StuffIt Deluxe 16
The Unarchiver The Unarchiver
bzip2 bzip2
Linux
bzip2 bzip2
PeaZip PeaZip
Android
File Viewer for Android File Viewer for Android
RARLAB RAR RARLAB RAR

Additional Information

  • File type: Bzip2 Compressed File

  • File extension: .BZ2

  • Developer: Julian Seward

  • Category: Compressed Files

  • Format: Binary

  • HEX: 42 5A 68

  • ASCII: BZh

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Comments (1)

  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery
    Hetman Software: Data Recovery 18.12.2019 13:02 #
    Leave a comment if you have any questions about Recovering lost .BZ2 files after deleting, cleaning or formatting!
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Vladimir Artiukh

Author: Vladimir Artiukh, Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: Oleg Afonin, Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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Questions and answers

  • What is a .BZ2 file format and what does it typically contain?

    The .BZ2 file format is a compressed file format that uses the Bzip2 algorithm for compression. It is primarily used on Unix-based systems.

    A .BZ2 file typically contains one or more files or directories that have been compressed to reduce their size. It is commonly used for compressing large files or archives, such as software packages, backups, or log files. The Bzip2 compression algorithm provides a higher compression ratio compared to other compression formats like .ZIP or .GZ, resulting in smaller file sizes.

  • How can I open a .BZ2 file on my computer?

    To open a .BZ2 file on your computer, you can follow these steps:

    1. Install a file compression/decompression software: .BZ2 files are compressed using the Bzip2 algorithm, so you'll need a program that can handle this format. One popular option is 7-Zip, which is a free and open-source file archiver that supports .BZ2 files. You can download it from the official website (https://www.7-zip.org/) and install it on your computer.
    2. Launch the file compression/decompression software: After installing the software, open it by double-clicking on the desktop icon or searching for it in your Start menu.
    3. Locate the .BZ2 file: Navigate to the folder where the .BZ2 file is saved.
    4. Extract the contents: Right-click on the .BZ2 file and select the "Extract Here" or "Extract files" option from the context menu. This will extract the contents of the .BZ2 file to the same folder or a specified location.
    5. Access the extracted files: Once the extraction process is complete, you can access the extracted files by navigating to the folder where the extraction took place.

    Now you should be able to view and use the contents of the .BZ2 file on your computer.

  • Are there any specific software or tools required to extract the contents of a .BZ2 file?

    Yes, you need software or tools to extract the contents of a .BZ2 file. One commonly used tool is called 7-Zip. It is a free and open-source file archiver that can handle various compression formats, including .BZ2 files. Other tools like WinRAR, WinZip, and PeaZip also support extracting .BZ2 files.
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