Readers like you help support XDA Developers. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More. Show At some point, everyone runs into a situation where they receive a file they're not sure how to open. Windows doesn't natively support all file formats, so sometimes, you need special software. The RAR format is one of the most common file types to have this problem, but we're here to help. We'll show you how to open RAR files on your Windows PC. First off, let's explain what RAR is. It's a type of compressed archive file, similar to the ZIP files you can create with Windows. A RAR file can contain numerous other files, much like a folder, but those files are compressed to take up less space on a disk. This can make it easier to share folders with other people, since you only have to transfer a single file and it's smaller in size overall. XDA VIDEO OF THE DAY RAR was developed in 1993 by Eugene Roshal, and it's a proprietary file format. To open it, you'll need a program called WinRAR, which was also developed by Roshal. This program can open RAR files as well as various kinds of archives, including ZIP and others. It's technically paid software, but you can use it for free if you don't mind seeing some messages about how you should pay for it. How to open RAR files with WinRARThere are various programs that support opening or extracting RAR files, but for this guide, we'll stick with the original one. WinRAR was designed specifically to work with RAR files, and it's still one of the best ways to open them. Here's what you need to do:
And that's all you need to know about how to open RAR files on your Windows PC. If you want to extract entire files without opening them, you can also right-click a RAR file in File Explorer, move your mouse over WinRAR in the context menu, and select one of the extraction options available. WinRAR already integrates with the new Windows 11 context menus, so it all works seamlessly. You can also easily create RAR archives yourself with WinRAR. You can select the files or folders you want to compress, mouse over WinRAR and choose one of the options to add the files to an archive. Looking for other kinds of help with your PC? We have guides on how to download YouTube videos, how to block websites, or even how to create fillable PDFs. Check them out if those are things you're interested in. How do I open a RAR file on Windows?Here's what you need to do:. Go to the official WinRAR download page and download your preferred version of WinRAR. ... . Once the file is downloaded, run the installer and follow the instructions. ... . Click OK and finish up the installation process.. Now, you can go to the RAR file you have and double-click to open it.. How do I open a RAR file on Windows 10 without WinZip?Right-click any RAR file, point to the “7-Zip” menu, and then select one of the “Extract” options, depending on where you want to extract the files.
How do I unzip a RAR file in Windows 10?1. Right-click on the RAR file and hover over "WinZip" to display the secondary menu. 2. Click on "Unzip to..." and choose the location you want to save the file to.
Can you open RAR with Windows 10?RAR Files in Windows 10 so you can get to the contents inside. Unlike ZIP files, RAR files require software that doesn't come included with Windows itself. Fortunately there's a fantastic, small and free app that does let you open .
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