What is a RAR file?
RAR stands for RAR archive. It was created by Eugene Roshal and first released in 1993. RAR is a proprietary format: anyone can extract it, but only the WinRAR developers make software that creates it. That is why tools convert from RAR, not to it.
| Type | archive |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless |
| In a browser | opens natively in Windows 11 since its 2023 update; older Windows needs 7-Zip and a Mac needs The Unarchiver |
| Common uses | large downloads split into parts and files shared on forums |
| MIME type | application/vnd.rar |
Which format should you convert RAR to?
- RAR to ZIP to open on any computer or phone without extra software.
- RAR to TAR for Linux, Mac and server tools.
How to open a RAR file
Whether a RAR file opens with a double click depends on the device. Here is what works on each, without buying software:
| Windows | ZIP opens natively; Windows 11 opens RAR, 7Z and TAR too since 2023. 7-Zip handles everything on older versions. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Archive Utility opens ZIP and TAR; The Unarchiver opens RAR and 7Z. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app opens ZIP. Other formats need an app. |
| Android | Files by Google opens ZIP; ZArchiver opens most other formats. |
| Web browser | RAR opens natively in Windows 11 since its 2023 update; older Windows needs 7-Zip and a Mac needs The Unarchiver. |
Want the technical details? See what a .rar file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
RAR compared with other archive formats
How RAR stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Usually contains | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAR | Lossless | many files and folders, compressed as a whole | 1993 | large downloads split into parts and files shared on forums |
| ZIP | Lossless | many files and folders, each compressed separately | 1989 | sending several files at once and downloading software |
| 7Z | Lossless | files compressed with LZMA or LZMA2 | 1999 | maximum compression for backups and software distribution |
| TAR | Lossless | files and folders joined end to end, without compression | 1979 | software source code and Linux and Mac backups |
| TGZ | Lossless | a TAR archive compressed with gzip | 1992 | source code releases and Linux software |
How to use the RAR converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your RAR files on the box, or press Choose RAR files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. Nothing is uploaded at any point.
Tips for converting RAR files without losing anything
Converting a RAR file is lossless: every file inside comes out byte for byte identical, and only the archive around them changes.
- ZIP is the safe choice for sharing, because every system opens it without extra software.
- Use 7Z or TAR.GZ for backups and large collections; 7-Zip on a computer creates them.
- Archives are lossless: converting between formats never changes the files inside.
- Keep the original until you have checked the new archive opens and holds everything.
- Give archives clear names with a date, such as project-2026-09.zip, so backups are easy to find later.
- Check free space first: extracting needs room for every file inside, which can be several times the archive size.
- Avoid nesting archives inside archives; one level is easier to open on every device.
Convert RAR files from the command line
7-Zip extracts any of these formats, and a second command packs the result:
7z x input.rar -oextracted
cd extracted && 7z a ../output.zip .The converter on this page does the same job in your browser, without installing anything.
RAR converter FAQ
What is a RAR file?
RAR stands for RAR archive, an archive format created by Eugene Roshal in 1993. RAR is a proprietary format: anyone can extract it, but only the WinRAR developers make software that creates it. That is why tools convert from RAR, not to it.
How do I open a RAR file?
RAR opens natively in Windows 11 since its 2023 update; older Windows needs 7-Zip and a Mac needs The Unarchiver. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common RAR conversion?
RAR to ZIP is the conversion people search for most. Every file and folder in the RAR is extracted in your browser and packed into a new ZIP with the same structure. Nothing is uploaded.
Does converting RAR files here upload them?
No. Every conversion on this page runs inside your browser, so your RAR files never leave your device.
Is the RAR converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark, and no limit on how many RAR files you convert. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert RAR files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your RAR files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several RAR files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.