What Is the Best RAR Extractor for Mac?

UnlikeZIP files, macOS doesnt have the native ability to open and unzip RAR files.

There are a lot of options, and each one comes with strengths and weaknesses.

The Unarchiver in the Mac App store.

launch the Unarchiver, and clickFile.

Select a location to place the extracted files, and clickExtract.

Your files will appear in the location you selected.

File highlighted with The Unarchiver opened.

Just want to extract files to the default location?

Heres how to use The Unarchiver as your default RAR extractor:

Locate your RAR file using Finder.

Control+Clickthe RAR file, and selectGet Info.

Unarchive to… highlighted in The Unarchiver.

ClickChange All…

ClickContinue.

When you double-click a RAR file, it will extract using The Unarchiver.

This method involves uploading your RAR file and then downloading the extracted file or files.

rar5.rar highlighted in The Unarchiver

This is inherently less secure than just extracting the file directly on your Mac.

go for the RAR file you want to open, and clickUpload.

Wait for the extraction process to finish.

Unarchive highlighted in The Unarchiver.

nudge the file you want to retrieve.

The file will download to your Mac.

Click any other files you want to retrieve, and save them in the same manner.

Extract highlighted in The Unarchiver.

Each file contained in a RAR archive has to be downloaded separately.

Are RAR Files Safe for Mac?

RAR files are compressed files that have one or more files inside.

An extracted RAR file in macOS Finder.

They can contain text documents, images, videos, a wide variety of other files.

While RAR files arent inherently unsafe, they can include unsafe content.

If you trust the source of the RAR file, it will probably be safe to open.

RAR files in Finder with Rar.5 file highlighted

To open a password-protected RAR file, you’ll need to use a workaround.

First, try a command-line RAR password-cracking tool, such as cRARk.

Next, fire up the saved .bat file you created, which will then open a Command Prompt window.

Get Info highlighted in Finder.

Then the Command Prompt screen will ask for a filename.

Command Prompt will attempt to crack the password.

Open with… selected in a rar file info.

The Unarchiver highlighted in a file’s properties.

Change All… highlighted in a rar file’s info.

Continue highlighted in a confirmation window.

Choose File highlighted on the unzip online site.

Upload highlighted in the unzip online website.

Uncompress file highlighted on the unzip online site.

Unzip Online extracting a RAR file with progress bar highlighted

robe and wizard hat.psd highlighted on unzip online.

Allow highlighted in Safari.

An extracted file from an RAR file downloaded from unzip online.