How to open a .rar file
Quick, free ways to open RAR on any system.
A .rar file is a Roshal Archive. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads RAR yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .rar file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .rar. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with WinRAR or 7-Zip.
- On Mac, use The Unarchiver or Keka.
- On Linux, try unrar or Archive Manager.
- Still stuck? Convert the .rar to ZIP, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .rar files
Windows
- WinRAR
- 7-Zip
- PeaZip
macOS
- The Unarchiver
- Keka
Linux
- unrar
- Archive Manager
Web
- Not natively; extract locally
!
Before you open it: The archive is safe, but scan its contents. Only extract RAR files from sources you trust.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .rar file?
Almost always because no installed app understands RAR. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
How do I open a RAR file for free?
Use 7-Zip on Windows, The Unarchiver or Keka on Mac, or the unrar command on Linux. All extract RAR without paying for WinRAR.