This wikiHow teaches you how to extract a compressed RAR file on a Mac using the free Unarchiver application. If you can't install Unarchiver for some reason, you can use the free StuffIt Expander instead.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using Unarchiver
Step 1. Download the Unarchiver app
Unarchiver is an application that allows you to open RAR files on a Mac computer. To download it, follow these steps:
-
open
“ App Store ” on the computer.
- Click the search bar in the upper-right corner of the App Store window.
- Type unarchiver into the search bar, then press Return.
- Click the button " Get ” which is under the " Unarchiver " heading.
- Click the button " Install App ” under the " Unarchiver " heading when prompted.
- Enter your Apple ID password if prompted.
Step 2. Open Launchpad
Click the Launchpad icon which resembles a space rocket. Usually, this icon is displayed in the Dock at the bottom of the computer screen.
Step 3. Click the Unarchiver app icon
After that, the Unarchiver application will run.
If prompted, you may need to choose whether the extracted files will be stored in the same folder each time they are extracted, or the application may need to ask the extraction destination first during each extraction process
Step 4. Click the Archive Formats tab
This tab is at the top of the application window.
Step 5. Check the box "RAR Archive"
With this option, the Unarchiver application can open RAR files in the future.
Step 6. Select the RAR file
Go to the location where you want to open the RAR file, then click the file.
If you want to extract a RAR file that has multiple parts, start with a file with a ".rar" or ".part001.rar" extension first. All parts of the file must be in the same folder
Step 7. Click File
This menu option is near the top of your computer screen. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Sometimes, you can also double-click the RAR file to open it via the Unarchiver app. However, this step may not work if you have several applications that can open RAR files on your computer
Step 8. Select Open With
This option is in the drop-down menu “ File After that, a pop-out menu will be displayed.
Step 9. Click The Unarchiver
It's in the pop-out menu. After that, the RAR file will be opened in the Unarchiver application and its contents will be extracted to the RAR folder.
If the RAR file is password protected, you will be prompted for a password before extracting the contents of the file
Step 10. Open the extracted contents
By default, the Unarchiver application will extract the contents to the same folder as the original RAR file storage folder. For example, if the RAR file is stored in the “Desktop” folder, you may find extracted contents in the same folder.
Method 2 of 2: Using StuffIt Expander
Step 1. Open the StuffIt Expander website
Visit https://my.smithmicro.com/stuffit-expander-mac.html via your computer's web browser. StuffIt Expander is a free application that supports a wide variety of archive file types, including RAR.
Step 2. Download StuffIt Expander
To download it:
- Enter your email address in the " Email* " field.
- Click the link " FREE Download ”.
- Click the button " Download ”.
Step 3. Install StuffIt Expander
Double click the downloaded DMG file, select “ agree ” when prompted, and wait for the app to install.
You may be asked to verify the program before Stuffit Expander can be installed
Step 4. Open StuffIt Expander
Double-click the StuffIt Expander app icon to open it.
If prompted, click “ Open ”.
Step 5. Click Move to Applications Folder
After that, the installation process will be completed and the StuffIt Expander application will be opened. You can now use this application to open RAR files.
Step 6. Click StuffIt Expander
This menu option is in the upper-left corner of the screen. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 7. Click Preferences…
This option is in the drop-down menu “ StuffIt Expander ”.
Step 8. Click the Advanced tab
This tab is at the top of the “Preferences” window.
Step 9. Scroll down and click on RAR
It's in the middle of the window.
Step 10. Click Assign to StuffIt Expander
It's on the right side of the window. With this option, StuffIt Expander can open RAR files on your Mac computer.
Step 11. Close the window
Click the red button in the upper-left corner of the window to close it.
Step 12. Double-click the RAR file
After that, StuffIt Expander will run and the contents stored in the RAR file will be extracted.
- If StuffIt Expander doesn't work, right click or press “Control” while clicking on the RAR file, then select “ Open With " and click " StuffIt Expander ”.
- If you want to extract a RAR file that has multiple parts, start with a file with a ".rar" or ".part001.rar" extension. All parts of the file must be in the same folder.
- If the RAR file is password protected, you will be prompted for a password before the contents of the file can be extracted.
Step 13. Open the extracted contents from the RAR file
By default, StuffIt Expander will extract the contents to the same folder as the original RAR file storage folder. For example, if the RAR file is stored in the “Desktop” folder, you can find extracted contents in that folder.
