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How to easily open RAR files in Windows 7/8/10

how to open rar files on windows 7/8/10

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You’ve probably seen a file ending in .rar and wondered why Windows won’t open it. That’s because RAR is a compressed archive format (like ZIP), but unlike ZIP, it’s not natively supported by Windows. Don’t worry—opening RAR files is easy once you know which tool to use.

1 – Old Windows Versions and RAR Files

Windows has long supported .zip archives without any extra software. You can double-click a ZIP file and browse the contents like a folder.

But RAR files are different. They were developed using a proprietary compression algorithm, and Windows 7, 8, and even 10 don’t include built-in support. That means you’ll need a third-party app to extract them.

2 – The Best App to Open RAR Files on Windows 7 (and Later)

One of the easiest (and free) tools to use is 7-Zip.

  • Website: https://www.7-zip.org/
  • Cost: Free (open source)
  • Why use it: Lightweight, secure, supports RAR, ZIP, and dozens of other archive formats.

3 – How to Extract a RAR Archive in Windows 10

  1. Download and install 7-Zip
  2. Right-click the .rar file.
  3. In the menu, hover over 7-Zip.
  4. Choose one of the following:
    • Extract Here → unpacks files into the same folder.
    • Extract to foldername → creates a new folder with the extracted files.
    • Open archive → lets you browse inside the RAR before extracting.

That’s it—your files are now ready to use.

4 – Using RAR in Old Versions of Windows

If you’re still on Windows 7 or 8, you might wonder if it’s worth installing extra software just for RAR files. Honestly, unless you need to open a RAR someone sent you, it’s better to stick with ZIP.

Why?

  • Windows already supports ZIP out of the box.
  • Most tools let you compress into ZIP as easily as RAR.
  • Sharing ZIPs avoids the “What do I need to open this?” problem for friends or coworkers.

RAR is fine for extracting files, but for creating and sharing, ZIP is the universal choice.

5 – What About WinRAR? (And Why to Avoid It)

You might hear about WinRAR, since it’s the software originally designed for RAR archives. It works well—but here’s why many people skip it:

  • It’s not free. WinRAR is paid software, though it lets you keep using it after the trial (with constant nags).
  • 7-Zip does the same job without cost or limitations.
  • For simple extracting, WinRAR is overkill.

Unless you have a very specific reason to use it, 7-Zip is the better option for most Windows users.

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