Extract RAR Files

Extract RAR files online without WinRAR: open RAR 4 and RAR 5 archives in your browser and download the files individually or as a ZIP. Free and private.

Files are processed in your browser and never uploaded.

RAR 4 and RAR 5 archives are supported. Encrypted RAR archives cannot be opened in the browser.

How to open a RAR file

  1. Drop the .rar file onto the drop zone above, or click Choose a file.
  2. Leave Password (only if the archive is encrypted) empty. That field applies to encrypted ZIP files only; password-protected RAR archives cannot be opened here.
  3. Click Extract files.
  4. Download individual files with their Download buttons, or use Download all (ZIP) to get everything in a single ZIP that any computer can open.

The RAR is decoded by libarchive compiled to WebAssembly, running inside this browser tab. You do not need to install WinRAR, and the archive is never uploaded.

What is a RAR file?

RAR (Roshal Archive) is a proprietary format created by Eugene Roshal and maintained by the makers of WinRAR. It became popular for its good compression, recovery records that can repair minor damage, and its ability to split large archives into numbered volumes. Many downloads, game mods and file-sharing uploads still arrive as RAR.

The format exists in two main versions:

  • RAR 4 (also called RAR 2.9 or RAR 3 format) is the older layout produced by WinRAR before version 5 and by many tools that still default to it.
  • RAR 5 arrived with WinRAR 5.0 in 2013. It uses a larger dictionary, stronger encryption and a different internal structure, so some older extractors cannot read it.

This tool reads both versions. Because the format is proprietary, only WinRAR and its command-line tool rar can create RAR archives. Every other program, including this site, can only extract them.

Opening RAR without a browser

Recent Windows 11 updates added built-in RAR extraction to File Explorer; on Windows 10 you need a program such as 7-Zip or WinRAR. macOS Archive Utility does not handle RAR, so Mac users usually install a free extractor. On Linux, unrar x archive.rar extracts with full paths if the unrar package is installed, and 7z x archive.rar works with 7-Zip. When you cannot install software, for example on a work laptop or a Chromebook, a browser extractor is the simplest route.

Tips

  • Want to keep the files as an archive but in a format everyone can open? RAR to ZIP repacks the contents as a standard ZIP.
  • For a smaller result, RAR to 7Z uses LZMA compression instead.
  • To check what is inside before unpacking, open the RAR in ZIP Viewer, which also lists RAR and 7Z contents.
  • Got a ZIP, 7Z or TAR instead? The general Archive Extractor handles them all.
Tip: If the RAR asks for a password in WinRAR or 7-Zip, it is encrypted and will not open here. Extract it on the desktop with the password, then use Create ZIP if you need to share the files again.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open a RAR file without WinRAR?

Yes. This page extracts RAR 4 and RAR 5 archives in your browser with no software to install. Each file can be downloaded individually or together as a ZIP.

Why won't my password-protected RAR open?

Encrypted RAR archives are not supported in the browser, even with the right password. Use WinRAR or 7-Zip for those. This site cannot recover a forgotten RAR password.

Can this tool create RAR files?

No. RAR is proprietary and only WinRAR can create it. If you need to send a compressed archive, ZIP or 7Z are open alternatives that work almost everywhere.

Is there a size limit?

The archive and its contents are held in browser memory. Files over about 700 MB are slow, and anything larger than 2 GB is refused.

Copied to clipboard