This wikiHow teaches you how to extract and open a RAR file. A RAR file is actually a folder containing several files that have been compressed to save storage space. Using several free programs, you can extract and open RAR files on iPhones, Android devices, Windows computers, and Mac computers.
Step
Method 1 of 4: On iPhone
Step 1. Download iZip
iZip is a free application that can open many types of archive files, including RAR files. To download it:
- Open the app" App Store ”.
- Touch the button “ Search ”.
- Touch the search bar” App Store ”.
- Type " izip, then touch " Search ”.
- Touch the button “ GET ”.
- Enter your Apple ID or Touch ID password.
Step 2. Open the RAR file
First, open the program that saved the RAR file, and then touch the file. After that, the file will be “opened” and a gray screen with the file name in the middle will be displayed.
Since iPhone doesn't come with a file manager, RAR files will likely be stored in an email manager or cloud storage app
Step 3. Touch the button
It's a square icon with an arrow in the lower-left corner of the screen. After that, a pop-up menu will be displayed.
Step 4. Swipe the screen to the far right
Swipe from right to left in the row of apps at the top of the menu. You can see the iZip folder icon displayed in the application bar.
Step 5. Touch the Copy to iZip button
It's a yellow folder icon at the end of the application row. After that, the RAR folder will be opened in iZip.
If this option is not available, touch the “ ⋯, slide switch " iZip ” to the right, and touch “ Done ” to display options.
Step 6. Touch the OK button when prompted
The RAR file will be “opened” so you can access it.
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If you are not prompted to open the file, follow these steps:
- Tap the circle to the left of each file in the RAR folder.
- Touch the button “ Extract ” at the bottom of the screen.
Method 2 of 4: On Android
Step 1. Download the RAR file to your Android device
If the file is not saved on your Android hard drive, you will need to download it first. Open the app that holds the Android file (eg Gmail or Google Drive), find the file, and download it.
If the file is already saved on your device, skip this step
Step 2. Download the WinZip app
WinZip is a free application that allows you to open a wide variety of compressed file types, including RAR files. To download it:
-
Open the app Play Store ”
Androidgoogleplay - Touch search bar.
- Type " winzip ”.
- Touch " WinZip - Zip UnZip Tool ”.
- Touch " INSTALL ”.
- Choose " ACCEPT ”.
Step 3. Touch the OPEN button
It's a green button at the top of the WinZip application page. After that, the program will be opened.
Step 4. Touch the GET STARTED button
It's at the bottom of the WinZip main page.
You may need to swipe left first when some ads appear
Step 5. Locate the RAR file you want to open
Touch " SD " or " Internal ”, then go to the folder containing the RAR file.
If you have downloaded the RAR file, tap the folder “ Downloads ”, then touch the application folder you used to download the file if necessary.
Step 6. Touch and hold the RAR file
A pop-up menu will appear after a few seconds.
Step 7. Touch Unzip to…
It's at the top of the pop-up menu.
Step 8. Choose a location to extract the RAR folder
Touch one of the following extract location options:
- “ Storage ” – The RAR file will be extracted to your selected hard disk and directory on your Android device.
- “ My Files ” – RAR file will be extracted to folder “ My Files ” on Android devices.
- “ Google Drive ” – RAR file will be extracted to folder “ Google Drive ”.
- “ Dropbox ” – The RAR file will be extracted and uploaded to the Dropbox account. If you don't have a Dropbox account, you'll need to create one first.
Step 9. Touch UNZIP HERE button
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen. The RAR file will be opened and all its contents will be copied to the specified folder. Now you can see the files stored in the RAR file.
Method 3 of 4: On Windows
Step 1. Check the bit version of Windows computer
The files you need to download may vary slightly depending on the version of Windows you're running (32-bit or 64-bit).
Step 2. Go to the WinRAR download page
Visit https://www.rarlab.com/download.htm/. WinRAR is a free and versatile tool that you can use on any Windows computer to view and open RAR files.
If the link above is not accessible, visit https://www.rarlab.com/, then click the link “ Downloads ” which is on the left side of the page.
Step 3. Click the download link that corresponds to the computer bit version
If the computer is running a 64-bit operating system, click the link “ WinRAR x64 (64 bit) 5.50 ” at the top of the page. For users of 32-bit operating systems, click the link “ WinRAR x86 (32 bit) 5.50 ” which is above it. The WinRAR installation file will be downloaded to your computer.
You may need to click the “ Save ” or confirm the download before the file starts downloading to the computer.
Step 4. Double-click the WinRAR installation file
You can find the file in your computer's default download storage location. After that, the WinRAR installation window will open.
Step 5. Install WinRAR
To install it:
- Click " Yes ' when prompted.
- Click " Install ”.
- Make sure the box " RAR ” in the upper-left corner of the window is already marked.
- Click " OK ”.
- Click " Done ”.
Step 6. Locate the RAR file you want to open
If the RAR file is on your desktop, you're ready to open it. Otherwise, follow these steps:
-
Open menu Start ”
Windowsstart -
Open File Explorer ”
Windowsstartexplorer - Click the location where the RAR file is saved in the left pane of the window. You may need to select some additional folders in the main File Explorer window to find the RAR file.
Step 7. Double-click the RAR file
After that, WinRAR will open automatically.
- You may need to select " WinRAR ” from the pop-up list and click “ OK ” to open WinRAR.
- When first opened, you may be asked to purchase the program. Click the icon " X ” in the right corner of the window to close it.
Step 8. Select the RAR folder you want to open
Click the RAR folder name in the middle of the WinRAR window to select it.
Step 9. Click Extract To
This folder icon is in the upper-left corner of the WinRAR window. After that, a pop-up window will be opened.
Step 10. Select the RAR file extraction location
Click the folder you want to use to store the RAR content (eg. Desktop ”) on the right side of the pop-up window.
Step 11. Click OK
It's in the lower-right corner of the window. WinRAR will extract the RAR folder to the specified location. Once done, you can open the extracted folder just like a normal folder and view its contents.
Method 4 of 4: On Mac
Step 1. Download The Unarchiver app
To download it:
- Open " App Store ” on a Mac computer.
- Click the search bar in the upper-right corner of the window.
- Type " the unarchiver ” in the search bar and press the Return key.
- Click the button " INSTALL " which is under the application " The Unarchiver ”.
Step 2. Open “Spotlight”
Click the magnifying glass icon in the upper-right corner of the screen. After that, a search bar will be displayed.
Step 3. Type unarchiver into Spotlight
After that, The Unarchiver application will be searched on the computer.
Step 4. Click The Unarchiver
This option will appear in the top row of Spotlight search results. After that, a pop-up window will be displayed.
Step 5. Click Ask every time if prompted
This is done to ensure that The Unarchiver program always asks for the extraction location of the RAR file.
Step 6. Locate the RAR file you want to open
Open Finder by clicking on the blue face icon in the computer's “Dock”, then clicking the folder containing the RAR file on the left side of the Finder window.
You may need to click on additional folders to find the RAR file
Step 7. Select the RAR file
Click the file in the Finder window to select it.
Step 8. Click File
It's in the upper-left corner of the Finder window.
Step 9. Select Open With
This option is in the drop-down menu “ File After that, a pop-out menu will appear on the right side of the drop-down menu.
Step 10. Click Unarchiver
It's in the pop-out menu. The RAR file will then be opened in The Unarchiver.
Step 11. Select the extraction destination folder
Click the folder on the left side of the window. This folder will be the destination folder for the RAR file extraction.
Step 12. Click Extract
It's in the lower-right corner of The Unarchiver's window. The Unarchiver will convert the RAR file into a folder that can be accessed at the specified extraction destination. Once the process is complete, you can open the extracted folder just like a normal folder and see the contents inside.
