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How to Create and Extract RAR Files on Windows 10
Learn to manage RAR files on your device however you like
5 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
RARfilesare one of the most popular and most used types of files on PCs, and their usage didn’t change inWindows 10.
So in this article, we’re going to talk about RARfiles, how to create them, how to extract them, and more.
What is this article for?
The tools that we’ve written about in this article and that we use on a daily basis, are very useful in case you are also searching for:
What is a RAR File?
RAR file is a compressed file that is used for storing largerfilesin archives, in order to take less space on the hard disk or transfer easier.
You’ll easily recognize RAR files because it uses a file name extension .rar.
Unfortunately, Microsoft didn’t add native support toWindows 10, despite users’ demands, so to manage .rarfiles, we’ll have to use a third-party program.
Since we’re talking about .rarfilesonly, probably the most popular program for creating and extracting .rar archives isWinRAR.
Also, you can learnhow to extract files in Windows 10 without WinRARwith our comprehensive guide, so be sure not to miss it.
How do I make and extract a RAR file in Windows 10?
1.Make a RAR file using WinRAR
To create a .rar archive/file, you need to download WinRAR first. After that, it can’t be simpler, just follow the steps above.
If you’re compressing a largerfile, you’ll notice that it takes less size on the disk than the original, so you can move it quicker.
Once you create an archive, allfileswill stay in it, no matter if the original is still present on your PC, so even if you delete the originalfile, you’ll still be able to access it in the WinRAR archive.
Also, if you are looking forthe best file compression tools for Windows 10, our detailed guide will help you.
2. Extract a RAR file in Windows 10
1. Open theWinRAR archiveyou want to extract files from.
- Select the files you want to extract.
3.Click onExtract to.
4.Choose the destination path where you want your files to be extracted.
- Finally, click onOKto begin the extraction process.
Extracting .rar files from an archive to a Windows 10 computer is as simple as creating a .rar archive, maybe even simpler.
You just need to open the archive and drag files that you want to extract from the archive to a folder on your computer.
That’s all, you now know how to create and extract .rar files with WinRAR. You don’t have to strictly use WinRAR for managing .rar files, but we consider it’s the best solution.
However, if you don’t like WinRAR, you canuse WinZip, which also can handle .rarfilesexceptionally well.
3. Create a RARfileusing WinZip
If WinRAR feels a bit too old, or you are looking for way more options, such as integration with your favorite cloud storage, you should download, install, and useWinZip.
Once installed, be sure to follow the steps above to create a .rar archive/file using WinZip.
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4. Make RAR files online
If you don’t want to download and install a dedicated tool to create and extract RARfiles, you can also use online resources to generate RARfiles.
One of the most popular online RAR converters is Zamzar. This tool supports over 1,000 differentfileconversion types, including compressedformats.
All you need to do is upload thefile(s) that you want to compress, select theformatto convert to, enter your email address to receive the convertedfiles,and then hit the convert button.
There you go, if you want to create and extract RARfiles, you basically have two options: you can download and install a dedicated tool or use an online platform.
If you’ve got other tips on how to create RARfilesonWindows 10, let us know in the comments section below.
More about the topics:file compression,Windows 10 Guides
Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
When he’s not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.
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Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Ivan has delved deep into understanding the Windows OS, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
