This wikiHow teaches you how to download and use WinRAR to open RAR files on a Windows computer. RAR files are compressed files that cannot be opened without special software - in this case WinRAR. You will probably need to use a program other than WinRAR if you want to open RAR files on a Mac.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Installing WinRAR
Step 1. Go to the WinRAR website
Go to
http://www.win-rar.com/download.html?&L=0
in your preferred browser.
Step 2. Click on Download WinRAR
This blue button is at the top of the page. Clicking on this will take you to an advertisement.
- If you are using a 64-bit version of Windows, you can click the link click here click below the blue button. Please check your bit version before clicking the 64-bit link.
Step 3. Click the Download WinRAR link
You will see this at the top of the page. This will download the WinRAR setup file to your computer.
Depending on your browser, you may need to confirm the download or select a save location first
Step 4. Double click on the setup file
It's a multicolored icon of a file that you'll find in your computer's default download location.
Step 5. Click Yes when prompted
This will open the WinRAR installer.
Step 6. Click Install
This option is at the bottom of the installation window. If you do this, start installing WinRAR on your computer.
Step 7. Make sure the 'RAR' box is checked
This option is located at the top left of the WinRAR window.
Step 8. Click OK and then click Finished.
WinRAR is now installed on your computer, which means you are ready to start extracting your RAR files.
Part 2 of 2: Using WinRAR
Step 1. Open WinRAR
The WinRAR app icon resembles a pile of books.
Step 2. Click on File
It's in the top left corner of the WinRAR window.
Step #3. Click Open Archive
This option is at the top of the File-drop-down menu.
Step 4. Select your RAR file
WinRAR opens to your desktop by default. If the RAR file is there, click on it to select it.
If the RAR file is not on your desktop, you can access its location from the folders on the left side of the window
Step 5. Click Open
This button is located at the bottom of the window. This will open the RAR file in a WinRAR window.
You can view the contents of the RAR file in WinRAR
Step 6. Click on Extract to
It is a brown folder-shaped icon in the top left corner of the WinRAR window.
Step 7. Select a location to extract your files
Click a destination folder on the right side of the WinRAR window to select it.
- You can also click on the + click to the left of a folder to expand it and view subfolders.
Step 8. Click OK
This will start extracting the contents of your RAR into the selected folder. Once the extraction is complete, the contents of the RAR file will be accessible like any regular file or folder.