RAR files help compress data for easier transfer. It is similar to a ZIP file which can compress multiple files into one. You can easily open or convert a RAR file using built-in operating system functions or third-party applications. Here are some popular ways to work with RAR files on different operating systems.
WinRAR
WinRAR compresses and encrypts all popular file formats including RAR, ZIP, CAB and 7Z. It is one of the oldest archiving applications developed by Eugene Roshal, the creator of the RAR file format. You can download WinRAR software from its official website if it is not already available on your computer. Once WinRAR is installed and becomes the default application for opening RAR files, you can instantly open any RAR file by double clicking on it. You can browse the files inside the RAR file in a familiar user interface and extract the files you need to your computer. Winrar is only compatible with Windows 7/8/10/11 on 32 or 64 bit systems. You can use WinRAR for free for 40 days.
PeaZip
PeaZip is a free file compression and archiving software that you can download online. PeaZip’s user interface is similar to Windows, and you can drag and drop files to zip/unzip. PeaZip is available for Windows and Linux. The software can be used without installation. PeaZip is versatile software that works with over 200 archive file formats, including ZIP, RAR, ARC, TAR, CAB, and 7Z. PeaZip can self-extract archives and convert them between different file formats. You can also encrypt files with a password.
Conversion app
You can also convert any RAR file to ZIP format, which is easier to use and can be opened directly on Windows and MacOS. You can easily convert your RAR file to ZIP format with RAR to ZIP Converter App. Converter App is an online software; you do not need to download or install it on your computer. Just visit the RAR to ZIP Converter App web page and upload your ZIP file in the download box. You can browse the file from your computer or simply drag and drop it into the upload box. After the conversion is complete, you can download your ZIP file and open it directly.
You can open ZIP files on MacOS with the default Archive Utility app. You can also compress files on MacOS by clicking on them and selecting the Compress option. Zip files can be opened in Windows Explorer by double-clicking them or selecting the Extract option from the right-click drop-down menu.
Extract now
Extract Now is another freeware you can use to open RAR files. It is extremely lightweight, requiring less than 5MB of installation space. It’s also simple to use, especially when extracting multiple files at once. Simply open the ExtractNow program and drag and drop any RAR file into the program window. File extraction speed is fast and reliable.
Ubuntu and Mac: unRAR command line tool
RAR files can be difficult to use on macOS or Ubuntu. The Linux archive manager also does not work with RAR files. You can extract RAR files in macOS and Ubuntu using unRAR command line tool. You need to install a package manager like Homebrew (MacOS) and APT-GET (Ubuntu) which allows installing any third-party software on your computer.
You may need to install the RAR format extractor if you are extracting a RAR file via terminal for the first time. Just open the terminal from the Utilities app on Mac and type “brew install unrar” and “xcode-select-install”. Similarly, type “sudo apt-get install unrar” in Ubuntu Terminal to install unrar before proceeding to the next steps. To extract a RAR file on macOS and Ubuntu, type “unrar x file name.rar” in the terminal. The extracted files will appear in the same location as the RAR file.