Why Can’t I Open RAR Files in Windows 10? The Best Free Tools to Extract RAR Archives

If you’ve ever tried to open a RAR file in Windows 10, you may have noticed that it doesn’t work. While Windows 10 can handle many different file types, the RAR format is not one of them. This can be frustrating if you need to access files stored in a RAR archive.

Fortunately, there are several free tools available that allow you to open and extract RAR files on your Windows 10 computer. In this article, we’ll explore why RAR files don’t open by default in Windows 10 and provide you with the best free options to handle them.

Why Can’t I Open RAR Files in Windows 10?

RAR (Roshal Archive) is a proprietary file compression format developed by Eugene Roshal. It’s similar to the more widely used ZIP format, but it offers some additional features like better compression ratios and password protection.

While ZIP files are natively supported by Windows 10, RAR files are not. This means that when you double-click on a RAR file, Windows won’t be able to open it or extract its contents. Instead, you’ll need to use a third-party tool specifically designed to handle RAR files.

The reason for this is that Microsoft has not licensed the RAR format for inclusion in Windows. The RAR format is owned by the company that developed WinRAR, a popular compression utility. To use RAR files in Windows 10, you’ll need to install a free alternative or use a tool like WinRAR, which offers a free trial but requires a license for continued use.

Best Free Tools to Extract RAR Files in Windows 10

There are several free tools available that allow you to open and extract RAR files in Windows 10. Here are some of the best options:

7-Zip

7-Zip is a free and open-source file archiver that supports a wide range of compression formats, including RAR. It’s a lightweight and easy-to-use tool that gets the job done without any fuss.

To use 7-Zip to open a RAR file in Windows 10:

1. Download and install 7-Zip from the official website: https://www.7-zip.org/
2. Right-click on the RAR file you want to open
3. Hover over “7-Zip” in the context menu
4. Select “Open archive”
5. The RAR file will open in 7-Zip, allowing you to browse its contents and extract files as needed

PeaZip

PeaZip is another free and open-source file archiver that supports RAR files. It offers a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy to navigate and extract files from RAR archives.

To use PeaZip to open a RAR file in Windows 10:

1. Download and install PeaZip from the official website: https://www.peazip.org/
2. Right-click on the RAR file you want to open
3. Hover over “PeaZip” in the context menu
4. Select “Open” or “Extract” to access the RAR file’s contents

WinZip

WinZip is a popular compression utility that offers a free version with limited features. While it’s not free for commercial use, the free version is sufficient for personal use and supports RAR files.

To use WinZip to open a RAR file in Windows 10:

1. Download and install WinZip from the official website: https://www.winzip.com/
2. Double-click on the RAR file you want to open
3. WinZip will automatically open the RAR file, allowing you to browse its contents and extract files as needed

These are just a few of the many free tools available to open RAR files in Windows 10. While they may not offer all the features of paid compression utilities, they are more than sufficient for most users’ needs.