---
title: ".rar file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .rar file is a RAR Archive. A proprietary archive format with better compression than ZIP and strong recovery features. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/rar/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .rar files

**.rar file: RAR Archive**

A proprietary archive format with better compression than ZIP and strong recovery features.

## What opens a .rar file

- **Windows:** File Explorer (built in, Windows 11), 7-Zip, WinRAR
- **macOS:** The Unarchiver, Keka, BetterZip
- **Linux:** Archive Manager / File Roller (built in, with unrar), Ark, unrar

## What a .rar file is

RAR was written by Eugene Roshal and is only officially creatable with the paid WinRAR; extraction is free and widely implemented. Windows 11 has extracted RAR archives in File Explorer since the 2023 update, using the libarchive project, though it cannot create them or handle password-protected ones. Multi-part archives named .part1.rar, .part2.rar and so on need every piece present before extraction works.

## Converting it

A .rar file is commonly converted to .zip, .7z or .tar. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.

## Details

- **Extension:** .rar
- **Full name:** RAR Archive
- **Category:** Archives
- **MIME type:** application/vnd.rar
- **Created by:** Eugene Roshal / win.rar GmbH
- **Format:** Binary

## Common questions

### How do I open a .rar file?

On Windows use File Explorer (built in, Windows 11); on macOS use The Unarchiver; on Linux use Archive Manager / File Roller (built in, with unrar). A proprietary archive format with better compression than ZIP and strong recovery features.

### What is a .rar file?

RAR Archive. RAR was written by Eugene Roshal and is only officially creatable with the paid WinRAR; extraction is free and widely implemented. Windows 11 has extracted RAR archives in File Explorer since the 2023 update, using the libarchive project, though it cannot create them or handle password-protected ones.

### Can I convert a .rar file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .zip, .7z or .tar, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.zip — ZIP Archive](https://atoneplace.net/file/zip/)
- [.7z — 7-Zip Archive](https://atoneplace.net/file/7z/)
- [.gz — Gzip Compressed File](https://atoneplace.net/file/gz/)
- [.tar — Tape Archive](https://atoneplace.net/file/tar/)
- [.tgz — Gzipped Tar Archive](https://atoneplace.net/file/tgz/)
- [.xz — XZ Compressed File](https://atoneplace.net/file/xz/)
- [.bz2 — Bzip2 Compressed File](https://atoneplace.net/file/bz2/)
- [.sfx — Self-Extracting Archive Module](https://atoneplace.net/file/sfx/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)