How to Open RAR Files on Windows and Mac | Digital Trends

Similar to ZIP files, a RAR (Roshal Archive) file is a way to compress multiple files into a single, high-quality container. Once you have downloaded or received RAR content, all you need to do is extract it to gain access to the media and documents inside. However, unlike Zip files, unzipping a .rar file is not as simple as selecting “Unzip”.

Unless you are using Windows 11, which has native RAR support, you will need to use a RAR extractor to access RAR files on macOS and older versions of Windows. Luckily, we have the expertise to show you how to do it and a few recommended extractors.

What is a RAR file?

A RAR (Roshal Archive) file that stores multiple compressed files. One of the main advantages of RAR compression is the ability to split high-quality media into archives that can be encrypted and password protected.

RAR files make it very easy to transfer multiple small files at once, and similar to the ZIP container, sending and sharing RAR files is a great way to reduce bandwidth usage and upload times.

Native RAR support for Windows 11

In previous versions of Windows (as covered in our next section), you had to use a RAR extractor to extract .rar content. But Windows 11 actually has built-in support for RAR, so no special extraction tools are required. How to open a RAR file with Windows 11:

Step 1: begin File manager and locate the RAR file you want to extract. Then double-click to open the RAR file.

Step 2: Select the items you want to extract, then right-click the files and select them Copy.

Step 3: Once you’ve decided which folder, drive, or desktop you want to save these files to, right-click and select paste.

Step 4: You can also right-click your RAR folder and select Extract everything…. Then just click Search to search for an endpoint folder.

Once you find one, click Select folder > extract.

7-Zip (Windows)

Step 1: Download 7-Zip from the official website. If you’re using the latest version of Windows 10 or 11, you’ll probably want the 64-bit version, but it’s a good idea to confirm which version of Windows you’re using first.

In the installer, select the desired destination folder for the utility and click To install Click the button in the bottom right corner of the window. Press that Finish When you’re done, click the button and start the program.

Step 2: Find the RAR file you want to open in Windows File Explorer, then right-click it and select it Open with > 7 zipper.

Step 3: Now that the RAR file is open, you have a number of options as to what you can do with it. You can access individual files in the RAR archive by double-clicking them, or navigate through folders in the same way to delve deeper into the RAR file.

If you want to access the files in the RAR archive more easily in the future, you can also click extract Click the button and select a storage location. The RAR file is then extracted, leaving all its components, files and folders accessible via Windows File Explorer.

The Unarchiver (macOS)

Compressing files on macOS is an essential feature of the operating system, but you also need to be able to unzip them. Apple has a native tool to decompress files with just a click. However, this is a streamlined option that does not allow any control over the process. For those looking for a complete tool, we recommend another option.

Unarchiver easily outperforms macOS’s built-in archive unpacker – also known as Archive Utility. The program supports a larger number of file formats, including RAR files, and offers additional features that are more similar to 7-Zip than other offerings available on the Internet. Although Unarchiver cannot create RAR files, you can still open RARs with just a few steps.

Step 1: Download Unarchiver from the official website or go to the App Store to download the application. Then extract the file and start the program.

Step 2: Once opened, make sure the checkbox next to RAR Archive is checked – along with any other archive types you want to open with Unarchiver – and click extraction tab at the top of the application window.

Next, select your location for the resulting file from the drop-down menu at the top of the window, Ctrl-click and select the RAR file you want to open Unarchiver from the drop down menu next to Open with Possibility.

Step 3: The utility will then automatically create a file with the same name as the RAR file and save it to the previously specified location. Then simply double-click the RAR file to launch it in the corresponding program.

Editorial recommendations