Opening a RAR File

The RAR file type is primarily associated with WinRAR.

RAR	File extension: RAR
	File type:	compressed archive file

What is a RAR file?

RAR files mostly belong to WinRAR by RARLAB. A RAR file is a file archive that is compressed using RAR compression. Archives are used to store and reduce the size of single of a group of files and folders.

Compression: The RAR format uses a proprietary compression algorithm and typically offers better compression ratios than ZIP compression.
File splitting: The RAR format supports splitting of archives into multiple chunks. They are usually created and split by WinRar for Windows and Command-line for Linux. The splitting from a large archive into multiple smaller files will enable storage and easy movement in small media e.g Discs. In order to use the files inside, they need to be unpacked first.
Nomenclature: Split archives are named using a numerical sequence, e.g. abc.part1.rar, abc.part2.rar, etc. depending on how many pieces are created.
Extraction: RAR files may be extracted using WinRar or WinZip. Other options of free programs that can extract these files are 7-Zip and PeaZip.

How to open a RAR file

You need a suitable software like WinRAR to open a RAR file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your RAR file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a RAR file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online RAR File Viewer

Choose your .rar file to view

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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How to extract texts from RAR files or capture a screenshot to PDF, JPG, DOCX, TXT, ...

You can extract texts from RAR file or capture a preview screenshot using our online RAR file viewer:

To do this, click the button "Choose your .rar file to view" on this page.
After your file is opened in browser,
click "Save as..." in the menu.
Then choose the file format (e.g. JPG, PDF, DOCX, TXT, ...) you want.
Download the converted file.

Programs that open and convert RAR files:

WinRAR by RARLAB
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. RAR files are often referred to as WinRAR compresseds because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
7-Zip (compressed archive file) by Igor Pavlov
7-Zip is an open-source file archiving software developed by the individual developer Igor Pavlov. The software has support for several archive formats, including RAR. RAR is the format for the compressed archive file created using WinRAR. This file format is classified as Compressed. Related links: 7-Zip Repository, 7-Zip on Wikipedia
Java EE (JCA resource adapter archive) by Oracle
Java EE (Java Platform Enterprise Edition) is a collection of tools and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for developing and deploying enterprise applications. RAR is a Resource Adapter Archive for JCA (Java EE Connector Architecture) applications in Java EE. It contains XML files, Java classes, and other objects. This file format is classified as Developer. Related links: Java EE on Wikipedia, RAR (Java EE) File, Resource Adapters Guide
PeaZip (compressed archive file) by Giorgio Tani
PeaZip is an open-source file compression and archiving software by individual developer Giorgio Tani. The archiver supports several formats, including RAR. RAR is the format for the compressed archive file created using WinRAR. This file format is classified as Compressed. Related links: PeaZip on Wikipedia, PeaZip Repository, How to Open RAR with PeaZip
WinZip (compressed archive file) by Corel
WinZip is a file compression and archiving software from Corel. It supports several archive formats, including RAR. RAR is the format for the compressed archive file created using WinRAR. This file format is classified as Compressed. Related links: WinZip on Wikipedia, How to Open RAR with WinZip

RAR file extension format:

Every file has a defined file format, i.e. how the data is arranged in the file. The file format can be determined based on the file extension and the signature (the first few characters of a file). Frequently, however, one file extension is used by different programs for different file formats, and one file format for different file extensions. If there are problems opening a file, you must first determine the file format used. Below you will find our evaluation of the RAR files:

The RAR file extension is very common and uses a well-defined format that can be read by many programs. The file formats most commonly found in RAR files are:

95% of all RAR files are WinRAR interface theme files, which are using the popular RAR file format. RAR is a proprietary archive file format that supports data compression, error correction and file spanning. They consist of unreadable binary data. The average file size is 7 MB with most files being between 21 KB and 410 MB in size. This file type is based on cutting-edge technology. The following keywords are characteristic: Rar!. These files are often associated with pack, getintopc, adobe, data, crack, patch, free and game.
1% of all RAR files use ZIP compression, so several files are combined and compressed into one RAR file. Primarily 1 to 150 files are included. If you want to see the included files and images, simply rename the file extension to .zip and double-click it. The files are often between 24 KB and 1 GB in size. These files can be linked to evrak, rebuilt, pubg, bookdigg, apkpure, scratch and udemy.

All other RAR files (4%) have different formats, the following 11 formats exist: 7z, HTML and EXE. Files like these are sometimes linked to download, edition, update, downloadly, office or project. You can get all the details of your RAR file by dragging it onto this page or by clicking the button "Choose your .rar file to view" above.

Technical Data for RAR File Extension

File classification:

Compressed

Related files:

zip, anon, game, check, bok, crack, exe, ir, ar, zar, rpf, wizard, lpt, rir, lic, nsp, max, part, 900, ara, rev, r00, r01

Mime type:

application/x-rar, application/x-rar-compressed, application/vnd.rar

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: File.Rar, FileType: ZipGenius Rar File, AppName: zipgenius

ProgramID: File.Rar, FileType: ZipGenius Rar File, AppName: ZipGenius 1.4 Service Release 3

ProgramID: PARAR, FileType: PowerArchiver RAR File, AppName: The most powerful Freeware Archive Utility
EXEFile: POWERARC.EXE

ProgramID: PicoZip, FileType: PicoZip Archive, AppName: PicoZip
EXEFile: PicoZip.exe

ProgramID: PowerDesk Archive, FileType: PowerDesk Archive, AppName: PowerDesk

ProgramID: PowerDesk.Archive, FileType: PowerDesk.Archive, AppName: PowerDesk
EXEFile: PDExplo.exe

ProgramID: PowerDesk.Archive, FileType: PowerDesk.Archive, AppName: PowerDesk Pro

ProgramID: Rar-Archiv, FileType: Rar archive, AppName: WinAce Archiver v2.5
EXEFile: WinAce.exe

ProgramID: StuffIt.Compressed.File.Expand, FileType: StuffIt Compressed File, AppName: StuffIt for Windows 8.0
EXEFile: stuffit.exe

ProgramID: StuffItArchive, FileType: Aladdin StuffIt Archive

ProgramID: WinRAR, FileType: WinRAR archive, AppName: WinRAR archiver
EXEFile: WinRAR.exe

ProgramID: ZipMagic RAR

ProgramID: 7-Zip.rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\7-Zip\7zFMn.exe %1

ProgramID: BitZipper.rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\BitZipper\BITZIPPER.EXE %1

ProgramID: File.Rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ZipGenius 5\zipgenius.exe -open %1

ProgramID: PARAR
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PowerArchiver\POWERARC.EXE %1

ProgramID: PicoZip
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PicoZip\PicoZip.exe %1

ProgramID: PicoZip.rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PicoZip\PicoZip.exe %1

ProgramID: PowerDesk.Archive
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ontrack\PowerDesk\PDExplo.exe %1

ProgramID: PowerDesk.Archive
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\VCOM\PowerDesk\PDExplo.exe %1

ProgramID: PowerDesk.Archive
EXEFile: Y:\Ontrack\PowerDesk\PDExplo.exe %1

ProgramID: Rar-Archiv
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WinAce\WinAce.exe %1

ProgramID: StuffIt.Compressed.File.Expand
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Aladdin Systems\StuffIt Standard\stuffit.exe -expand %1 -from_shell

ProgramID: StuffIt.Compressed.File.Expand
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Aladdin Systems\StuffIt\\stuffit.exe -expand %1 -from_shell -override_open_tutorial

ProgramID: WinRAR
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PACKER\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe %1

ProgramID: WinRAR
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe %1

ProgramID: WinRAR
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Zippers\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe %1

ProgramID: WinRAR
EXEFile: C:\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe %1

ProgramID: WinRAR
EXEFile: E:\WinRar 3.4\WinRAR.exe %1

ProgramID: StuffItArchive
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Aladdin Systems\StuffIt 7.0\Expander\Expander.exe %1

ProgramID: WinRAR
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WinRar 8\WinRar 8 beta\WinRAR.exe %1

ProgramID: File.Rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\!Ute\ZipGenius 5\zipgenius.exe -open %1

ProgramID: pkzipfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PKWARE\PKZIPW\PKZIPW.exe %1

ProgramID: ACDSee.RAR
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\ACDSee.exe %1

ProgramID: StuffIt.Compressed.File.Expand
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Allume Systems\StuffIt\stuffit.exe -expand %1 -from_shell -override_open_tutorial

ProgramID: PARAR
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%r\PowerArchiver\POWERARC.EXE %1

ProgramID: IZArc
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\IZARC\IZARC.EXE %1

ProgramID: File.Rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ZipGenius 6\zipgenius.exe -open %1

ProgramID: QZ4..rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\QuickZip4\QuickZip.exe %1

ProgramID: Qzip.rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\QuickZip\Quickzip.exe %1

ProgramID: StuffIt.Compressed.File.Expand
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Aladdin Systems\StuffIt 7.5\stuffit.exe -expand %1 -from_shell

ProgramID: UltimateZip
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ULTIMA~1\uzip.exe %1

ProgramID: Filzip
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Filzip\Filzip.exe %1

ProgramID: 7-Zip.rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\7-Zip\7zFM.exe %1

ProgramID: WinRAR
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Utilities\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe %1

ProgramID: MimarSinan Codex
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /idlist,%I,%L

ProgramID: ExtractNow
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ExtractNow\extractnow.exe

ProgramID: IZArcRAR
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\IZArc\IZArc.exe

ProgramID: ICEOWSDoc
EXEFile: rundll32 %SystemRoot%\system32\ShellExt\IceGUI.dll,RouteTheCall

ProgramID: ACDSee Pro.rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\8.0.Pro\ACDSee8Pro.exe

ProgramID: uz.rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ULTIMA~1\uzip.exe

ProgramID: PowerDesk.Archive
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PowerDesk\PDExplo.exe

ProgramID: PARAR
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Accessories\PowerArchiver\POWERARC.EXE

ProgramID: ALZip.rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ESTsoft\ALZip\ALZip.exe

ProgramID: BraZipRar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\BraZip\BraZip.exe

ProgramID: Rar-Archiv
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\WinAce.exe

ProgramID: UltimateZip
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\UltimateZip 2.7\uzip.exe

ProgramID: StuffIt.Compressed.File.Expand
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Smith Micro\StuffIt\stuffit.exe -expand -from_shell -override_open_tutorial

ProgramID: ACDSee 9.0.rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\9.0\ACDSeeQV.exe

ProgramID: Filzip
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Filzip\Filzip.exe

ProgramID: Rar-Archiv
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WinAce.exe

ProgramID: StuffItArchive
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Aladdin Systems\StuffIt 7.0.2\Expander\Expander.exe

ProgramID: pkzipfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\_WWWUT~1\Security\Mail\PKWARE\PKZIPW\PKZIPW.exe

ProgramID: StuffIt11.Archive.Open.Rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Smith Micro\StuffIt11\StuffIt11.exe -o

ProgramID: RAR
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PeaZip\PEAZIP.EXE

ProgramID: ACDSee 7.0.rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\7.0\ACDSee7.exe

ProgramID: IZArcRAR
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\IZArc\IZArc.exe

ProgramID: LhaplusArchive_rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Lhaplus\Lhaplus.exe

ProgramID: 7-Zip.rar
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Utilities\7-Zip\7zFM.exe

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a rar compressed archive file is a special file format by RARLAB and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with RAR files

Associate the RAR file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open compressed archive files. Because only the current version supports the latest RAR file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the RARLAB manufacturer website after an available WinRAR update.
To make sure that your RAR file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .RAR file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.