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QGIS Native Project — Compressed (.qgz)

Open Beta

.zip · application/zip

Native QGIS project in .qgz format — a compressed ZIP container with the project file, GeoPackage data, and QML styles. Opens in QGIS 3.x as a single bundle with full styling, layers, and map settings preserved.

Export QGIS Project (.qgz) now ✨ Open Beta — free, no limits

Key Features

✓QGIS native format

✓Single ZIP bundle (project + data + styles)

✓QML styles preserved

✓GeoPackage with data

Example QGIS Project (.qgz) export (central Moscow, 1x0.5 km) — Example: central Moscow, ~1×0.5 km, medium detail

About QGIS Project (.qgz) Format

A .qgz file is the native QGIS project format introduced in the 3.x branch: the same XML project, packed into a ZIP container together with auxiliary files. This is exactly what QGIS offers by default for everyday work and for handing maps over.

Take .qgz when the project simply needs to be opened and worked with: sent to a colleague, moved to another machine, put into an archive. If the project has to be readable by eye and live in version control, the .qgs option is more convenient — the same project as text.

In the archive: map.qgz — the project itself, map.gpkg with the layer data, a styles/ folder with QML styles and a README.txt. Unpack everything into one folder and open map.qgz — QGIS 3.x will pull in the data and the styling by relative paths. Version 3.0 or newer is required, with the long-term releases 3.28 and 3.34 recommended.

What Program Opens QGIS Project (.qgz) Files

The following programs and applications can open, edit, and work with QGIS Native Project — Compressed (.qgz) (.zip) files exported from OSM2CDR:

🌎QGIS 3.x 🌎QGIS 3.28 LTR 🌎QGIS 3.34 LTR 🌎QGIS Desktop 🌎PyQGIS

Format specifications

Open standard
2D only
Lossless (no quality loss)
Stores feature attributes
Output: 3 files in archive
Compressed ZIP bundle: .qgz project file + GeoPackage data + QML styles. Opens in QGIS 3.x with one click; all layers, styles and CRS settings preserved.

Who Uses QGIS Project (.qgz) Maps

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Ready-to-use QGIS project

Open and work: layers, styles and extent are already set up, no preparation required.

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Sharing maps with colleagues

One archive instead of a folder full of scattered files — a colleague gets the map exactly as you assembled it.

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Archiving working maps

Compact storage of a working map together with its data and styling for the future.

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Teaching GIS

Handout material for classes: the whole group has the same project and the same data.

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QGIS native format

The project format recommended by QGIS itself — it opens normally, with no conversions and no plugins.

How to Export QGIS Project (.qgz)

Select area

Draw a rectangle or polygon on the interactive map at osm2cdr

Choose QGIS Project (.qgz)

Select QGIS Native Project — Compressed (.qgz) from the list of 127 available export formats

Export

Click Export and receive your .zip file in 1-5 minutes

Download

Download the ready QGIS Project (.qgz) file and open it in QGIS 3.x

How to Open After Export

QGIS 3.x — unpack the ZIP into one folder and open map.qgz with a double click or through Project > Open.
To look inside — a .qgz is an ordinary ZIP container: rename a copy to .zip and inspect the project file if you need to check the settings by hand.
Sharing with colleagues — send the whole archive: a lone map.qgz without map.gpkg will open empty, all the geometry lives in the GeoPackage.
Fieldwork — QField and Mergin Maps open the same project with its GeoPackage on a tablet or a phone.
If you need a text project for a repository — download the .qgs option.

Popular maps in QGIS Project (.qgz)

Free

Get QGIS Native Project — Compressed (.qgz) map exports

Download professional QGIS Project (.qgz) maps from OpenStreetMap. Instant generation, any area.

Free / export

Export QGIS Project (.qgz) now →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between .qgz and .qgs? ▼

What is inside the downloaded archive? ▼

What QGIS version is required? ▼

Why did the project open with no data? ▼

Can I edit the data right inside the project? ▼

Related Formats

Frequently Exported Together

QGIS Project (.qgz)+📄QGIS Project (.qgs)📦GeoPackage 💻GeoJSON

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