How to Read RAR Files on Mac

When it comes to working with compressed files, you might encounter the RAR format, which is a popular choice for data compression. However, unlike ZIP files, which can be easily opened using your Mac's default archiving utility, RAR files require a specific tool to operate. In this article, we'll explore how to read RAR files on Mac and provide you with some reliable options.

Originally developed by Dag Agren over 10 years ago, Unarchiver is a free and simple tool that allows you to unarchive hundreds of file formats, including RAR. Although there isn't an actual WinRAR for Mac, as it only works on Windows, there are plenty of archivers that support RAR files.

One popular option is BetterZip, which offers a user-friendly interface and fast performance. To use BetterZip, simply drop the files onto the app and then click and hold either the Save or Extract button to select one of the available options.

Another option is Archiver, which allows you to compress and unpack any files on your Mac. This tool is particularly useful if you need to work with large files, as it can handle files up to 8 EiB in size – much larger than the standard 2 GB limit for ZIP files.

RAR itself is an acronym for Roshal Archive, developed by Russian software engineer Eugene Roshal in 1993. Unfortunately, your Mac's default tools cannot open RAR archives due to their proprietary nature. However, there are many archiving formats available, and it's likely that you'll only ever encounter two: ZIP and RAR.

In conclusion, while ZIP is easily readable by your Mac's default archiving utility, RAR files require a specific tool to operate. By using tools like Unarchiver or BetterZip, you can quickly open and extract RAR files on your Mac.

How to read rar files on mac