Windows
Archives on Windows 11: Native RAR Support
A 23H2-era Windows 11 update added native reading and extraction for RAR, 7z, and several other archive formats directly in File Explorer.
Get an archive tool for your computer
Download the installer and start opening RAR, ZIP and 7z archives in a few minutes.
What Windows 11 can do natively
- Open and browse the contents of a
.rararchive in Explorer, without installing anything. - Extract files from RAR, 7z, tar, tar.gz, and several other formats via the right-click
Extract Alloption. - Preview the archive's file list before deciding whether to extract.
What it cannot do
- Create a RAR archive — Windows 11 can only read RAR, never write one. To make a RAR you need WinRAR, the only mainstream tool that produces the format.
- Repair a damaged RAR — there is no built-in repair function; see fixing a corrupted RAR file.
- Open RAR archives with encrypted file names — Explorer's native support does not prompt for a password to reveal an encrypted file list the way WinRAR does; see password-protected RAR files.
- Advanced extraction options — things like selective extraction of specific files, overwrite rules, or extracting multi-part archives are handled better by dedicated software.
The Explorer extraction flow
- 1Locate the archiveFind the
.rar,.7z, or.tar.gzfile in File Explorer. - 2Right-click the fileChoose
Extract All...from the context menu. - 3Pick a destinationConfirm or change the folder Explorer suggests, then select
Extract. - 4Open the extracted folderExplorer opens the destination automatically when extraction finishes.
When you still need third-party software
If you need to create archives, work with password-protected or multi-part RAR files, or want more control over extraction, install a dedicated tool. See archive software for Windows for a comparison, or go straight to installing WinRAR on Windows 11.
Download and try it yourself
Install the archive tool and apply the steps from this guide on your own files.
Frequently asked questions
Which Windows 11 versions have native RAR support?
Support arrived in a 23H2-era update. Earlier Windows 11 builds do not include it, so keeping Windows up to date matters if you rely on this feature.
Can Windows 11 create RAR files?
No. Native support is read and extract only. Creating a RAR archive requires [WinRAR](/winrar) or another RARLAB tool.
Why does my RAR file ask for a password Windows 11 can't handle?
Archives with encrypted file names hide their contents until a password is supplied, and Explorer's built-in support isn't designed for that prompt flow. Use a dedicated extractor instead; see [password-protected RAR files](/password-protected-rar-files).
Related guides
- Archive Files on Windows: Complete ReferenceWindows handles ZIP files natively, but RAR support depends heavily on which version of Windows you run and how recently it has been updated.
- How Windows Handles RAR FilesWhether a RAR file opens with a single double-click, shows a generic icon, or triggers an error depends on what's registered as its default handler.
- How to Open a RAR File on Windows 11Windows 11 (23H2 and later) can open most RAR files directly in File Explorer, with a third-party extractor as a fallback for anything the built-in support doesn't cover.
- How to Extract a RAR File on Windows 11Windows 11's built-in RAR support covers more than a basic double-click, from full extraction to pulling out individual files.
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