Windows

How to Open a RAR File on Windows 10

Windows 10 has no built-in way to open RAR files, so the first step is always installing a compatible program.

Step 1: install a RAR-capable extractor

1. 1Choose a programSee archive software for Windows to compare free and paid options.
2. 2Download from the official sourceFor WinRAR, use the official download page (external).
3. 3Run the installerFollow the setup prompts; see installing WinRAR on Windows 10 for detailed steps.

Step 2: extract the RAR file

1. 1Locate the fileFind the .rar file in File Explorer.
2. 2Right-click itChoose the extractor's Extract Here or Extract to <folder> option.
3. 3Open the resultBrowse to the destination folder to confirm the files extracted correctly.

Command-line alternative

If you'd rather not install a full GUI program, RARLAB also distributes a command-line RAR/unrar utility. It's useful for scripting but has no graphical interface, so most readers are better served by a standard extractor for everyday use.

Troubleshooting

• No app opens the file at all — this is expected on a fresh Windows 10 install; install an extractor first.
• "This file cannot be opened" after installing software — the association may not have been set; see how Windows handles RAR files.
• Archive appears corrupted — see fixing a corrupted RAR file before assuming the download failed.

How to Open RAR Files in Windows 10

Unlike Windows 11, Windows 10 cannot extract RAR archives out of the box. You'll need a free third-party tool such as 7-Zip or PeaZip, both available from their official sites, before File Explorer can handle .rar files.

Install a RAR-capable tool

1. 1Download 7-Zip or PeaZipGet the installer from the official site (7-zip.org), not a third-party download page.
2. 2Run the installerAccept the defaults unless you have a specific reason to change them.
3. 3Confirm the context menu entry appearedRight-click any file to check for a 7-Zip or PeaZip submenu.

Extract via the context menu

1. 1Right-click the RAR fileLook for the 7-Zip or PeaZip submenu.
2. 2Choose Extract Here or Extract to folderExtract to folder is safer since it keeps the contents contained.
3. 3Wait for extraction to finishLarger archives take longer, especially over a slow disk.

Verifying extraction

Open the destination folder and confirm the expected files are present. If the tool reported an error partway through, the archive may be corrupted or missing part of a multi-part set. For general extraction guidance across platforms, see how to extract a RAR file.

Windows 10 and Archive Files

ZIP: built in

Windows 10 treats .zip files as a special kind of folder. You can double-click to browse contents, drag files out, or right-click and choose Extract All... without installing anything. See how to extract a ZIP file for the exact steps.

RAR: requires separate software

Unlike Windows 11, Windows 10 has no built-in ability to open, browse, or extract .rar files at any point in its update history. Double-clicking a RAR file on a fresh Windows 10 install produces an error or a prompt to choose an app, because nothing on the system knows how to read it. You need a dedicated program such as WinRAR or a free alternative; see archive software for Windows for the options.

Extraction options once software is installed

• Right-click context menu entries like Extract Here and Extract to <folder name>.
• Opening the archive directly in the program's own window to browse before extracting.
• Command-line extraction, useful for scripting or batch jobs.

A note on Windows 10's lifecycle

Windows 10 has an end-of-support date after which Microsoft stops issuing routine security updates for it. If you're still running Windows 10, keep archive software itself up to date, since that's now doing more of the security work that platform updates would otherwise cover. Check Microsoft's own lifecycle documentation for current dates rather than relying on this page for that detail.

WinRAR is a trademark of its respective owner. RareExplorer is an independent resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by RARLAB or win.rar GmbH. Read our editorial policy to see how this page was researched.