You know what Rar files are right? So, let talk on how to open RAR files on Android, iOS, Windows and Mac OS. If you have a .RAR file on your PC or smartphone, you need a special tool to open the file.
Before we go ahead with how to open RAR files on Android and how to unzip RAR on iPhone, iPad, and iPad, let us take a first look at some important terms we’ll use in the guide.
What is a RAR File?
RAR is a short word for Roshal Archive Compressed. Which means that a large file can be compressed to a smaller size without losing a single content in it and still maintain the file exact file size when the RAR file is opened.
However, to open a RAR file you need special software. But, you can easily turn a normal file folder into a RAR folder.
After you create your RAR file you can use a RAR file opener online to open it. But, you cannot open it the way you created it.
What is a Zip File?
If you have a zip file folder you will want to learn how to open it too just like the case of a RAR file folder. A zip could be used in a more extensive means compared to RAR.
When you turn a file to a zip format it could mean you want to compress it, archive it, split, encrypt it, and lot more.
They are many tools online to open a zip File and one of the most widely used online zip file open is the 7-Zip app.
Rar File vs Zip File
What is the relationship between a Zip file and a Rar file? This is just a brief explanation of Rar file vs Zip file.
A zip file is more accessible and can easily be created on Windows and Mac without using a third-party app like WinRAR or 7Zip. You can compress files using Zip format, encrypt files, and do a lot more.
RAR files, on the other hand, support better compression than zipping but they are common. Not only that they are common you need WinRAR to create a RAR file.
The better part of zipping and creating an RAR file is that both formats have good compression power and are secure to keep a component file together inside a single folder.
Password Zip & RAR Folder
You can create a password to protect both the zip and RAR folder. However, when a zip file is password protected you cannot directly unzip it, you will need a valid password to unzip it.
However, if you have a zip folder you no longer have access to its password here is how to bypass a PDF file with a password and print the document in the folder.
Rar files, on the other hand, can also be password-protected to enhance a high level of folder encryption. If your RAR file is protected with a password you will need the password to complete the file extraction.
How to Open RAR Files on Android
Here is a step-by-step procedure to open a RAR file on Android using the Android RAR file unpack app.
- Go to Play Store, search for RAR, download the RAR app for Android and install it. The RAR app, in particular, is published by win.rar GmbH
- Open the RAR app on your phone by clicking on the app icon
- Select the RAR file you want to open
- Select all the files in the raw file and click on the extract icon before the trash can.
- Under the extract option, select the folder location where you want to save the file you are about to extract.
- Done
Following the procedures above you can open all RAR files on your Android phone.
How to Open Rar Files on iPhone
If you have a zip file (.zip file) or folder or Rar (.Rar) folder on your iOS such as iPhone, iPad, and iPod here is how you can open it and extract the file.
- Go to the App Store, search and install download WinZip or iZip
- Open WinZip, select open in… and open the compressed folder
- Click OK on the popup message Would you like to extract all files?”
- All files will be unzipped. And if you want to unzip the file to another folder, you can create a new folder and name it what you can easily remember.
Now, you can repeat the process above to unzip or extract all your Rar files and access the folder’s components.
Alternatively, you can open a .rar file on your iPhone by following the steps below!
- Open the “Shortcuts” app on your iPhone.
- Tap on the “+” icon at the top right.
- Tap on the “Shortcuts” drop menu and tap on “Rename.”
- Rename the “Shortcuts” to something you can remember.
- Tap on “Add Action.”
- Search for “Files” and select it.
- Tap “Done” at the top right.
- On the “Shortcuts” page on the “3 dots” beside the name of the file.
- Search for “Extract Archive” and select it under “Documents.”
- Tap on the “Save File +” icon.
- Tap on the first “File” and select the .rar file.
- Tap “Open” at the top right.
- Click on the “Done” button at the top right.
- Tap on the “Rar File” you created and if you are asked to “Allow the file name to access .rar file” simply click on the “OK” button.
- Select where to “Exract” the “.rar” file or browse the location and tap “Open.”
- A “Checkmark” will appear on the .rar file extractor you created to confirm that the file has been unarchived successfully.
Open Rar File on Windows and Mac
There are various commercial and free software to extract Rar files on Windows and Mac. The common of these tools is the WinRar or 7Zip software to unzip files on Windows and Mac computers.
However, in this guide, we’ll make use of the 7Zip tool to unzip Rar files on your Windows or Mac computer.
- Download and install 7Zip software on your Windows or Mac
- Go to the .Rar file and right-click on the folder
- Hover your mouse pointer to 7Zip and select Extract files
- Select the location you want to extract the files to and click OK
- To set a password protection type the password into the column and then press OK.
How to Open a RAR File on Mac
Alternatively for Mac users, you can follow the steps below to extract a .rar file on your macOS device.
- Download and install an app called “Unarchiver” on your Mac.
- Open the app on your Mac.
- Go to the “Preference.”
- Select “RAR Archive” under the “File Format” tab.
- Tap on the “Extraction” tab and choose “Ask for a destination folder” to choose the location where you want to extract the files on your Mac.
- Close the “Preference” tab.
- Locate the .rar file you want to unarchive, select “Open With” and choose “Unarchiver” from the options [if more than one].
- Choose the “File Location” or create a new folder for your extracted file and choose “Extract.”
The file will be extracted from the .rar file without deleting the rar file on your Mac and you can now access it and open it on your Mac.
How to Convert a RAR File
There are different formats that you can convert a RAR file to. You can convert it to a zip file, or you can convert it to a PDF. So, if you send a rar file to someone and the person is unable to open it or extract it because no software works for the person. You can convert it to a zip file and use built-in software on Windows or macOS to extract it.
- Download and install a “WinZip” app.
- Locate the .rar file you want to convert and right-click on it.
- Choose “Open With” >> “WinZip.”
- Click on the “Menu” under “Action” at the top right next to “Unzip to.”
- Choose the folder or location where you want to save the unzip file and choose “Unzip” to unzip the rar file.
- Open the “WinZip” app by double-clicking on it on your desktop.
- Drag and drop the “Unzipped files” into the “WinZip window.”
- Tap “File” at the top left and choose “Save as.”
- Choose a location where you want to save the extracted .rar file.
- Hit the “Save” button to save your file.
Your rar file will now be converted from a rar file to a zip file which can be opened conveniently on most desktops.
How to Convert a Rar File to a PDF
You can convert a RAR file to a PDF file easily. Taking the following steps will explain how to convert RAR file to PDF using WinRAR.
- Open the “WinRAR” app on your computer.
- You will see all the RAR files on your computer.
- Right-click on the “RAR” file that you want to “Convert to PDF.”
- Select the option to “Print” from the “Menu.”
- Click on “Print as Microsoft PDF.”
- Type the “Name” of the file and hit the “Print” tab.
The RAR file will be saved as a PDF file on your computer and you can access it on the location you choose in the process.