How to Open RAR Files on Mac OS X

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: July 28, 2022 Tested

Using Unarchiver

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Using StuffIt Expander

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

This wikiHow teaches you how to extract a compressed RAR file on a Mac using the free Unarchiver app. If you can't install Unarchiver for some reason, you can use the free StuffIt Expander application instead.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Unarchiver

1
Download the Unarchiver application. The Unarchiver is an app that allows you to open RAR files on your Mac. To download it, do the following:
- Open your Mac's
  App Store
- Click the search bar in the upper-right side of the App Store window.
- Type unarchiver into the search bar, then press ⏎ Return.
- Click Get below the "Unarchiver" heading.
- Click Install App below the "Unarchiver" heading when prompted.
- Enter your Apple ID password if prompted.
2
Open Launchpad. Click the Launchpad icon, which resembles a rocket ship. It's usually found in the Dock at the bottom of your Mac's screen.

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3
Click The Unarchiver application. This will launch the Unarchiver program.
- If prompted, you may have to select whether you want to save unarchived files to the same folder each time, or if you want to be asked each time.
4
Click the Archive Formats tab. It's at the top of the window.
5
Check the "RAR Archive" box. Doing so ensures that the Unarchiver program will be able to open RAR files in the future.
6
Select a RAR file. Go to the location of a RAR file which you want to open, then click the RAR file.
- If you are trying to extract a multi-part RAR file, start with the ".rar" or ".part001.rar" file. All the parts should be in the same folder.
7
Click File. It's at the top of your Mac's screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
- In some cases, you may also be able to double-click the RAR file to open it in Unarchiver. This may not work if you have multiple apps which can open RAR files on your Mac.
8
Select Open With. This option is in the File drop-down menu. A pop-out will appear.
9
Click The Unarchiver. It's in the pop-out menu. Doing so will prompt your RAR file to open in Unarchiver, which will begin extracting the RAR file's contents into the RAR's folder.
- If the RAR file is password-protected, you'll be prompted to enter the password before the files can be extracted.
10
Open the extracted file(s). By default, The Unarchiver will extract the RAR's files into the same folder in which the RAR file was located. For example, if the RAR file was in the Desktop folder, you'll find the extracted files there.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using StuffIt Expander

1
Open the StuffIt Expander website. Go to http://my.smithmicro.com/stuffit-expander-mac.html in your computer's web browser. StuffIt Expander is a free application that supports a wide variety of archive files, including RAR.
2
Download StuffIt Expander. To do so:
- Enter your email address in the "Email*" field.
- Click FREE Download
- Click Download
3
Install StuffIt Expander. Double-click the downloaded DMG file, click Agree when prompted, and wait for it to install.
- You may be prompted to verify the software before you can install it.
4
Open StuffIt Expander. Double-click the StuffIt Expander app icon to do so.
- If prompted, click Open.
5
Click Move to Applications Folder. This will finish installing and opening StuffIt Expander; you should now be able to use this app to open RAR files.
6
Click StuffIt Expander. This menu item is in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
7
Click Preferences…. You'll find it in the StuffIt Expander drop-down menu.
8
Click the Advanced tab. It's at the top of the Preferences window.
9
Scroll down and click RAR. You'll find this option in the middle of the window.
10
Click Assign to StuffIt Expander. It's on the right side of the window. Doing so allows StuffIt Expander to open RAR files on your Mac.
11
Close the window. Click the red button in the upper-left corner of the window to do so.
12
Double-click a RAR file. Doing so should launch StuffIt Expander, which will begin extracting the RAR's files.
- If StuffIt Expander does not launch, right-click or control-click the RAR file, then select Open With and click StuffIt Expander.
- If you are trying to extract a multi-part RAR file, start with the ".rar" or ".part001.rar" file. All the parts should be in the same folder.
- If the RAR file is password-protected, you'll be prompted to enter the password before the files can be extracted.
13
Open the extracted file(s). By default, StuffIt Expander will extract the files into the same folder in which the RAR file was located. For example, if the RAR file was in the Desktop folder, you'll find the extracted files there.

Community Q&A

Question

Where are programs stored on Apple computers?

Community Answer

In the Applications folder. Get to it by opening the Finder and clicking "Applications." Unlike Windows or Linux, all programs on macOS are stored in one file.

Warnings

RAR folders don't always have files that you can open, though Unarchiver and StuffIt Expander will allow you to view the files.

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