RAR Files
What Is a Multi-Volume RAR Archive?
A multi-volume RAR archive is a single archive split across multiple files, so it can be stored, uploaded, or transferred in smaller pieces instead of one large file. See [multi-part RAR files](/multi-part-rar-files) for the extraction-focused version of this guide.
Multi-volume archives, also called split archives or multi-part RAR files, exist because file size limits are common: email attachments, USB drives formatted with FAT32, upload limits on file-sharing sites, and older removable media all cap how large a single file can be. WinRAR solves this by splitting one logical archive into a series of numbered volumes.
Why archives get split
- To fit under a file-size limit imposed by email, a website, or a storage device.
- To make transfer more manageable — smaller files can resume or retry more easily on a flaky connection.
- To distribute across multiple disks or drives when the total content is larger than any single one.
How volumes are named
| Format | Example sequence |
|---|---|
| RAR5 | archive.part1.rar, archive.part2.rar, archive.part3.rar ... |
| RAR4 (older) | archive.rar, archive.r00, archive.r01 ... |
See why RAR archives have .part1.rar files for more on this naming and which file to double-click.
Why every part is needed
A split archive is one continuous stream of compressed data cut into pieces — it is not several independent archives. Extraction reads the volumes in order and reassembles that stream, so if even one volume is missing or damaged, extraction stops or fails at that point. This is different from, say, a folder of separate ZIP files, where each file stands alone.
Recovery volumes
WinRAR can also create separate .rev recovery volumes alongside a split set. These aren't part of the data itself; they hold redundant information that can reconstruct one or more missing or damaged regular volumes, similar in concept to a RAR recovery record but spread across whole extra files instead of embedded in one archive.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need every volume to extract a split RAR archive?
Yes. All volumes must be present in the same folder for extraction to succeed, since they together form one continuous compressed stream.
Which file do I open to extract a multi-volume archive?
Open the first volume — the one ending in `.part1.rar`, or the plain `.rar` file in the older `.r00`/`.r01` scheme. The extractor pulls in the rest automatically.
Can I rename the volumes?
No. Renaming breaks the sequence the extractor relies on to find and order the parts.
What happens if one volume is missing?
Extraction will fail or stop at the point where the missing volume's data would be needed. See [RAR missing volume](/guides/rar-missing-volume) for what to try.
What is a .rev file?
A recovery volume created alongside a split archive. It stores redundant data that can rebuild a missing or corrupted regular volume, if enough recovery volumes were created.
Related guides
- What Is a RAR File?A RAR file (.rar) is a compressed archive that bundles one or more files together using RARLAB's proprietary compression format.
- The RAR File Format ExplainedRAR is a proprietary archive format with its own header structure, versioning, and optional features like solid compression and recovery records.
- Multi-Part (Split) RAR Files ExplainedA multi-part RAR archive splits one large compressed file into several smaller pieces that must all be present in one folder to extract correctly.
- Why RAR Archives Have .part1.rar FilesA `.part1.rar` file, alongside `.part2.rar`, `.part3.rar`, and so on, is one piece of a split, [multi-volume RAR archive](/guides/multi-volume-rar-archive) created with the RAR5 format. You need every part in the same folder to extract successfully.
- RAR Archive Has Missing Volume: What to CheckA missing-volume error means the extractor found a gap in a sequence of RAR parts it expected to be complete — one or more `.rar` or `.partNN.rar` files simply aren't in the folder.
- How RAR Recovery Records WorkA recovery record is optional redundant data added to a RAR archive when it's created, so that if the archive later becomes damaged, WinRAR can use that redundancy to repair it. It's the main defense against a [corrupted RAR file](/corrupted-rar-file).
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