How to Open RAR Files

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RAR files have become increasingly common in terms of compressed files that it has almost become second nature, specially in illegal online file sharing networks and also several webmasters today share any personal downloadable files on their websites in RAR formats today because of their sheer compression capabilities over the traditional, standard (matter of factly named) ZIP files.

rar

Unfortunately, files available in RAR formats for download aren’t usually supported with any relevant documentation as to how to open them and most operating systems don’t have native handlers for RAR files so noobs (like you) are absolutely foiled (or maybe not) because they cannot open that porno or cracked software file they downloaded. Fortunately the solution isn’t really a big deal. Install a free app and just like that all RAR files can be extracted and viewed.

RAR files are the native file format of the best compression tool (feel free to argue below), WinRAR and thus if you are looking to open RAR files, it is ideal to use WinRAR to handle RAR files on your computer. While WinRAR is shareware, the developer has done a poor job of restricting use beyond the trial period other than a nag screen when you run the program that asks you to buy it, click ‘close’ and it humbly obeys (unlike other similar nag screens that frustrate the shit out of you by disabling all features for 5 minutes displaying a menacing countdown timer as well until the time passes). WinRAR is available for Windows, Mac, Linux and Pocket PC (the pocket PC version is free and the MAC and Linux versions are command line only). It also supports a zillion languages so if you speak a language only a dozen people in the World speak and you are using Google’s (pathetic) translator WinRAR should support your language too.

Other Alternatives

WinRAR as mentioned above is pretty much your best best if you are looking to open RAR files, but if you are feeling bold for some reason you could try alternative software as listed below or if someone told you installing too many software would make your computer implode and you were retarded enough to believe that you could try a web based application to handle your RAR files too (see below).

7-Zip

7-Zip is a popular, open source alternative that allows extracting only of RAR files, works on Windows operating systems with unofficial Mac and Linux versions available as well.

PeaZip

PeaZip is another free archiving tool that allows extraction of RAR files, supports Windows and Linux operating systems.

OpenRarFile.com

This website is a web based RAR handler (as the domain name suggests obviously) that lets you extract as well as create RAR files. It goes unsaid that this is a cross-platform free solution.

Any other tools that you would personally recommend to open RAR files would be appreciated in the comments.

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    3 Comments so far
    1. pat testing November 13, 2009 4:33 pm

      Thanks good post, I was wondering how to open RAR files, great help thanks.

      Reply

    2. colorzone January 5, 2010 2:24 pm

      WinMount can mount RAR files on a new drive, so that you can use files inside it directly. There is no extraction time before you use them, and you don’t need disk space to hold these huge files. WinMount saves your time and disk space! ( http://www.winmount.com/Mount_RAR.html)

      or decompress rar with winmount ( http://www.winmount.com/decompress_rar.html )

      Reply

    3. Raven D. October 17, 2010 7:59 pm

      Aside from RAR, there are other files that aren’t easy to open without the necessary program installed on your system by default. Here’s yet another good site to help you deal with other file extensions. http://filetonic.com/blog/category/file-extensions/

      Reply

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