How to Open RAR Files on Mac: 4 Easy Methods

Introduction

Unlike ZIP files, macOS doesn't have built-in support for RAR archives. If you've downloaded a RAR file on your Mac and can't figure out how to open it, you're not alone. RAR (Roshal Archive) files are popular compression formats that offer excellent compression ratios, but they require specific software to extract.

In this guide, we'll walk you through four simple methods to open RAR files on your Mac, whether you have a new M1/M2 Mac or an older Intel-based model. No technical knowledge required!

What Are RAR Files?

RAR files (with the .rar extension) are compressed archives created using WinRAR software. They're similar to ZIP files but often provide better compression and support for splitting large archives into multiple parts.

Common scenarios when you might encounter RAR files include:

• Downloading software, games, or media files from the internet
• Receiving archived email attachments
• Transferring large collections of documents or photos
• Working with archives from Windows users (RAR is more common in the Windows world)

Now, let's explore the easiest ways to open these files on your Mac.

Method 1: Using The Unarchiver (Recommended)

The Unarchiver is a free, lightweight app that can handle almost any archive format, including RAR files. It's our top recommendation for Mac users.

Step 1: Download and Install The Unarchiver

You can get The Unarchiver in two ways:

• From the Mac App Store: Download The Unarchiver (recommended)
• From the official website: theunarchiver.com

Step 2: Set Up File Associations

1. Open The Unarchiver after installation
2. It should automatically show the "Archive Formats" preferences window
3. Make sure the checkbox next to "RAR Archive" is selected
4. Close the preferences window

Step 3: Open the RAR File

1. Locate your RAR file in Finder
2. Double-click the RAR file
3. The Unarchiver will automatically start extracting the files
4. By default, it creates a folder with the same name as the RAR file in the same location
5. Once extraction is complete, The Unarchiver will automatically open the folder with the extracted files

Method 2: Using Keka

Keka is another excellent archive utility for Mac that offers more customization options than The Unarchiver.

Step 1: Download and Install Keka

You can get Keka in two ways:

• From the Mac App Store: Download Keka ($3.99)
• From the official website: keka.io (free)

Step 2: Configure Keka (Optional)

1. Open Keka
2. Go to Keka menu → Preferences (or press Command+,)
3. In the "Extraction" tab, set your preferred output folder
4. You can also customize other settings like whether to open the folder after extraction

Step 3: Extract RAR Files

There are two ways to use Keka:

Option 1: Drag and Drop

1. Open Keka (the app window will appear)
2. Drag your RAR file and drop it onto the Keka window
3. Keka will extract the files to your chosen location

Option 2: Right-Click Method (if set as default app)

1. Right-click (or Control-click) on the RAR file
2. Select "Open With" → "Keka"
3. Alternatively, if you've set Keka as the default app for RAR files, simply double-click the file

Method 3: Using Terminal Commands

If you're comfortable with Terminal, you can extract RAR files using command-line tools. This method is especially useful for automation or batch processing.

Step 1: Install Homebrew (if not already installed)

Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that makes it easy to install software:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Step 2: Install unrar using Homebrew

brew install unrar

Step 3: Navigate to the directory containing your RAR file

Replace "/path/to/directory" with the actual path to your RAR file:

cd /path/to/directory

Step 4: Extract the RAR file

There are several commands you can use with unrar:

To extract with full paths:

unrar x filename.rar

To extract to a specific directory:

unrar x filename.rar /path/to/destination

To list the contents without extracting:

unrar l filename.rar

To test the integrity of the archive:

unrar t filename.rar

Method 4: Using Our Online RAR Extractor

If you don't want to install any software on your Mac, our online RAR extractor is the perfect solution. It works in any browser and requires no downloads or installations.

Step 1: Visit our Online RAR Extractor

Open your browser and go to our RAR Extractor.

Step 2: Upload your RAR file

1. Click the "Choose File" button or drag and drop your RAR file onto the upload area
2. Wait for the upload to complete (the time depends on your internet speed and file size)

Step 3: Extract and download files

1. Once uploaded, our tool will automatically process the RAR file
2. You'll see a list of all the files contained in the archive
3. You can preview compatible files (like images, PDFs, or text) directly in your browser
4. Download individual files by clicking on them
5. To download all files at once, click the "Download All" button

How to Open Password-Protected RAR Files

If your RAR file is password-protected, you'll need to provide the password during extraction:

Using The Unarchiver or Keka

Both The Unarchiver and Keka will automatically prompt you for a password if the RAR file is protected. Simply enter the password in the dialog box that appears.

Using Terminal

With the unrar command, you can use the -p flag followed by the password:

unrar x -pYOURPASSWORD filename.rar

If you want to be prompted for the password (more secure since the password won't be visible in your command history):

unrar x -p filename.rar

Using Our Online RAR Extractor

Our online tool will detect password-protected RAR files and display a password input field. Simply enter the password and click "Extract" to proceed.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem: "Unable to open file" or "Unknown archive format"

Solutions:

1. Make sure you have the latest version of your extraction tool
2. The file might be corrupt or incomplete - try downloading it again
3. If it's a multipart RAR archive (part1.rar, part2.rar, etc.), make sure you have all parts in the same folder and try opening the first part
4. Try a different extraction tool from our list

Problem: "CRC error" or "Checksum error"

Solutions:

1. The file is likely damaged during download or transfer
2. Try downloading the file again
3. If you have WinRAR installed (through Wine or on a Windows machine), you can use its repair feature

Problem: "Wrong password" error

Solutions:

1. Double-check the password for typos
2. Try any variations of the password you might have used
3. Contact the person who sent you the file to verify the password
4. Check if the password includes special characters or spaces

Problem: Terminal says "unrar: command not found"

Solutions:

1. Make sure you've installed unrar using Homebrew (brew install unrar)
2. If using an M1/M2 Mac, you might need to run Terminal using Rosetta, or ensure Homebrew is properly configured for Apple Silicon

Conclusion

Opening RAR files on Mac doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you prefer a simple GUI application like The Unarchiver, a more feature-rich tool like Keka, command-line control with Terminal, or the convenience of our online extractor, you now have all the knowledge you need to open any RAR file on your Mac.

For most users, we recommend The Unarchiver for its simplicity and reliability. If you only occasionally need to open RAR files, our online RAR extractor is perfect since it requires no installation.