Guides
How to Unzip a RAR File
"Unzip" is commonly used for any archive, but RAR and ZIP are different formats, and that mismatch is why some 'unzip' tools can't open a RAR file.
Get an archive tool for your computer
Download the installer and start opening RAR, ZIP and 7z archives in a few minutes.
"Unzip" technically refers to extracting a ZIP file, but many people use it loosely for any compressed archive, including RAR. The action you actually want — extracting the contents — is the same regardless of what you call it.
Why some 'unzip' tools refuse RAR files
Built-in unzip tools, like macOS Archive Utility or Windows 10's ZIP support, are built specifically for the ZIP format's structure. RAR uses a different, proprietary format, so a tool that only implements ZIP simply doesn't know how to read it. That's not a bug — it's a missing feature. Windows 11 is the exception, since it added native RAR (and 7z) read support alongside its existing ZIP handling.
Steps to actually extract a RAR file
- 1Confirm the file is RAR, not ZIPCheck the file extension is
.rar, not.zip. - 2Use a RAR-capable toolOn Windows 11, right-click and extract natively. On Windows 10 or macOS, install a free tool like 7-Zip, The Unarchiver, or Keka.
- 3Extract to a folderChoose a destination and extract the contents.
- 4Open the extracted filesThey now behave as normal files.
RAR vs ZIP at a glance
| RAR | ZIP | |
|---|---|---|
| Built into Windows 10 | No | Yes |
| Built into Windows 11 | Yes | Yes |
| Built into macOS Archive Utility | No | Yes |
| Who can create it | Only RARLAB tools | Many programs |
If you'd rather convert a RAR archive into a more universally supported ZIP file instead of installing a RAR-capable tool, see how to convert RAR to ZIP.
Download and try it yourself
Install the archive tool and apply the steps from this guide on your own files.
Frequently asked questions
Is unzipping a RAR file the same as extracting one?
Yes, in everyday usage. Technically "unzip" refers to ZIP files specifically, but people commonly use it for any archive format.
Why won't Windows 10 unzip my RAR file?
Windows 10's built-in ZIP support does not extend to RAR archives. You need a third-party tool such as 7-Zip, or an upgrade to Windows 11.
Can I turn a RAR file into a ZIP file?
Yes, by extracting the RAR contents and re-compressing them as ZIP with a tool that creates ZIP archives. See [how to convert RAR to ZIP](/how-to-convert-rar-to-zip).
Does macOS have a built-in unzip tool for RAR?
macOS Archive Utility unzips ZIP files but does not support RAR at all, so you need a separate tool like The Unarchiver.
Related guides
- How to Extract a RAR FileExtracting a RAR archive turns its compressed contents back into normal, usable files. Here's how to do it correctly across platforms.
- How to Extract a ZIP FileExtracting a ZIP file needs no extra software on Windows or macOS — here is the exact process on each, plus command-line options.
- How to Convert RAR to ZIPIf you just need one RAR file turned into a ZIP as quickly as possible, here is the shortest path for your platform.
- ZIP vs. RAR: A Practical ComparisonZIP and RAR solve the same basic problem — bundling and shrinking files — but they differ enough in compatibility and features that the right pick depends on what you're doing.
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