Forum Discussion
Best program to extract rar files in windows 10 without winzip software
Unfortunately, Windows 10 is still unable to extract rar files. Not sure why Microsoft does not provide a built in feature to open .rar archives in Windows 11 and Windows 10. By the way, I didn't like the winzip software as it installs multiple bundware on my computer and it took me hours to fully delete those unwanted apps.
Could you please suggest the best program to extract rar files in windows 10 without winzip? A user-friendly and fast app could be my favorite. I'd like to pay for it if it was good enough.
Thank you
7 Replies
- travis_markCopper Contributor
You can easily extract rar files in windows 10 without using the winzip application or any third-party applition,i can recommend this expert archive converter; this offline tool smoothly runs on any Windows, like Windows 10 and 11, without any error. This powerful tool is the best because it supports ZIP, RAR, TAR, 7ZIP, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, and TAR.LZMA files and converts them into any format, like RAR to ZIP, TAR TO TAR.GZ and many other formats. A free demo is also available.
Visit here:https://www.gbig.org/org_profiles/41400/products/367
- TedVereIron Contributor
There are many free apps to help you extract rar files in Windows 10 without winzip software.
- FaniJocuriIron Contributor
WinRAR CLI is a free program to let you open and extract .rar files in Windows 10 in a command line interface.
The WinRAR command line refers to the ability to use WinRAR’s tools via a terminal or PowerShell to compress, extract, or manage archive files through text-based commands instead of the graphical interface.
These tools are installed along with the desktop version of WinRAR and are typically located in:
C:\Program Files\WinRAR\
Common WinRAR Command Line Tools:
- rar.exe – Used for creating and managing RAR archives.
- unnrar.exe – Used for extracting files from RAR archives.
How to extract a RAR file in Windows 10 with winzip software:
unnrar x "C:\Path\To\Archive.rar" "C:\Destination\Folder\"
x – Extract with full path
e – Extract without full path (just files)
Notes:
You can run these commands from PowerShell or CMD.
Make sure the path to unnrar.exe or rar.exe is either added to the system PATH or included in your command.
The command line tools are powerful for scripting batch compression/extraction tasks.
- BarbiewanIron Contributor
Using Bandizip to extract RAR files in Windows 10 is generally a good choice because of its speed, support for multiple formats, and clean interface. However, there are some potential disadvantages or considerations to keep in mind:
Disadvantages of Using Bandizip:
* While Bandizip is free and doesn't bundle adware, some advanced features (like creating archives or encryption) may require a paid version or may be limited.
* Although it supports many formats, rare or proprietary archive types might not be fully supported or could require additional plugins.
* Although lightweight, some users report that certain archive operations can temporarily consume significant CPU or RAM, especially with large files.
* Always download from the official website to avoid malware or bundled unwanted software if you are want to extract RAR files in Windows 10. Downloading from third-party sites may pose security risks.
* Compared to some other archive tools like WinRAR or 7-Zip, Bandizip might lack some advanced features like detailed file previews, scripting, or advanced compression options.
* You may need to manually set up context menu options if you want quick right-click extraction, which some other tools handle more seamlessly. - TedVereIron Contributor
While WinZip is a popular tool for handling ZIP archives, it is not the ideal choice for extracting RAR files in Windows 10. One key reason is that RAR is not WinZip’s native format; instead, it belongs to WinRAR. While WinZip supports RAR to some extent, its compatibility is limited. It may not extract certain RAR files properly, especially newer or multi-part RAR archives, which can result in incomplete or corrupted extractions.
Another drawback is that WinZip often requires users to purchase a license to unlock full RAR extraction capabilities. Although it offers a trial version, many features, including complete RAR support, may be restricted or require upgrade prompts. This can be frustrating for users who simply want to extract a file quickly without navigating paywalls or pop-ups. In contrast, tools like 7-Zip and WinRAR provide more consistent RAR support with fewer limitations in their free or trial versions.
Performance and flexibility are also factors. WinZip has a bulkier interface and prioritizes its own compression format, leading to a less streamlined experience for RAR extraction. It may not support features such as password-protected RAR files, multipart RAR archives, or certain compression methods used in modern RAR files.
For me, FossZip is the best program to extract rar files in Windows 10. It is also capable of opening .rar files on Mac.
- ConsteropIron Contributor
I’ve used 7-Zip countless times without any issues. It’s straightforward, fast, and I’ve never had a problem with malware or system crashes just by extracting files. Just remember to scan your archives with your antivirus before opening or extracting if you’re unsure. Extracting RAR files on Windows 10 without WinZip is pretty safe, as long as you stick to reputable tools like 7-Zip. These programs are well-established, open-source or trusted, and don’t come with shady bundled stuff.
When extracting RAR file in Windows 10. The main danger is downloading third-party tools from sketchy sites, which might come with viruses or adware. So, always stick to official sites or trusted download portals. It’s just unzipping or unRARing. But if the archive is corrupt or tampered with, you might get errors or bad files. That’s rare if you get the archive from a trusted source. The only real concern is if the RAR file itself contains malicious scripts or malware. Some older or shady archives can have embedded malware, but that’s more about the contents than the extraction process. - EaisomLeeIron Contributor
How to extract RAR file in Windows 10? Windows 10 doesn't have built-in support for RAR files, but there are several excellent, user-friendly, and reliable programs you can use to extract RAR archives without WinZip. Many of these are free, lightweight, and do not bundle unwanted software.
1. 7-Zip
Price: Free and open-source
Features: Supports RAR, ZIP, 7z, TAR, GZIP, and more. Highly reliable, fast, and lightweight.
User-friendly: Yes, with context menu integration.
How to use: After installation, right-click the RAR file and select "Extract Here" or "Extract to [folder]."2. PeaZip
Features: Supports RAR, ZIP, 7Z, TAR, and many other formats. User-friendly interface with advanced options.
User-friendly: Yes, visually appealing and easy to navigate.3. Bandizip
Features: Fast extract RAR files in Windows 10, supports RAR, ZIP, 7Z, and more. No bundled adware or unwanted software.
User-friendly: Very easy to use with a clean interface.