Forum Discussion
How to open rar files on Windows 11?
Hi all, I recently switched to Windows 11 and am still getting familiar with the system. I have a few files downloaded in RAR format, but I'm not sure how to open them. Double click does not work at...
In my experience, about how to open RAR files on Windows 11, 7-Zip is my go-to because it’s super user-friendly and does a ton of other compressing tasks. It feels lightweight on your system and just gets things done without the fuss. Plus, it’s open-source, which is always a win in my book. PeaZip is great too if you just want to try something new!
Option 1: Using 7-Zip
- Once downloaded, just run the installer and follow the prompts—super easy.
- Find the RAR file you want to open, right-click on it, hover over “7-Zip” in the menu, and then select “Extract Here” if you want it in the same folder, or “Extract to [folder name]” for a new folder. Boom! Your files are now extracted and ready to roll.
Option 2: Using PeaZip
- Just download it and install it like any other app.
- Right-click on the RAR file, select “Open with”, and then choose PeaZip. You can extract it the same way as with 7-Zip—either to the same folder or to a new one.
To open RAR files on Windows 11. If you're feeling even lazier or just want it all in one spot, there are also some file management apps like WinRAR (which gives you a trial) or the built-in Windows tools for zip files, but they don't really handle RAR files without extra steps or paywall issues.