TINI File – What is .tini file and how to open it?

TINI Files: Chrome OS Crostini Backup

A TINI file is a backup file created by Chrome OS’s Crostini feature. Crostini allows Linux applications to run on Chrome OS devices, and TINI files store the user’s Linux data and settings. These files are essential for preserving the state of a Linux environment on Chrome OS, enabling users to easily restore their applications and data if necessary.

TINI files are typically generated when a user backs up their Crostini container. The backup process creates a single TINI file that contains all of the necessary data for restoring the container. This file can then be stored locally or on a remote storage service, providing a convenient and secure way to protect important data. When a user needs to restore their Crostini container, they can simply restore the TINI file, which will recreate the container with all of its original settings and applications.

TINI files are a valuable resource for Chrome OS users who rely on Linux applications. They provide a reliable and efficient way to back up and restore a user’s Linux environment, ensuring that their data and settings are always safe and accessible. Whether a user is upgrading to a new Chrome OS device or simply wants to safeguard their Linux applications, TINI files offer a simple and effective solution for preserving their digital workspace.

Opening TINI Files in Chrome OS

TINI files are created when users back up their Crostini containers in Chrome OS. These files contain an image of the container’s entire filesystem and state, allowing users to restore the container to a previous point in time. TINI files can be opened using the Crostini extension in Chrome OS. To open a TINI file, simply right-click on the file and select “Open with Crostini”. The Crostini extension will then mount the TINI file and allow you to access its contents.

Viewing and Extracting TINI File Contents

Once you have opened a TINI file, you can view its contents using the Chrome OS Files app. The Files app will show you a list of all the files and directories in the container’s filesystem. You can also use the Files app to extract individual files or directories from the TINI file. To extract a file or directory, simply right-click on the item and select “Extract”. The Files app will then extract the item to your Downloads folder.

Restoring TINI Files

TINI files can be used to restore Crostini containers to a previous point in time. To restore a TINI file, simply right-click on the file and select “Restore”. The Crostini extension will then restore the container to the state that it was in when the TINI file was created. Restoring a TINI file will overwrite any changes that have been made to the container since the TINI file was created.

TINI File Format

TINI files are a backup format used by Crostini, a Linux container environment that runs on Chrome OS. When you create a backup of your Crostini container, the resulting file will have a .TINI extension. TINI files contain a compressed tarball of the entire container, including the operating system, applications, and user data. This allows you to easily restore your container to a previous state in the event of data loss or corruption.

Using TINI Files

TINI files can be created and restored using the “crosh” command line interface. To create a backup, open a crosh window and enter the following command:


vmc container backup crostini-container-name


To restore a backup, enter the following command:


vmc container restore crostini-container-name tini-backup-file.tini


Replace “crostini-container-name” with the name of your Crostini container and “tini-backup-file.tini” with the path to the TINI backup file. Once the restore process is complete, your Crostini container will be restored to its previous state.

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