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AlexBlythe's avatar
AlexBlythe
Iron Contributor
Apr 27, 2025

7zip cannot open rar as archive, what's going on? Help!

Today I used 7-Zip to decompress a rar file, but it gave me an error message: "7zip cannot open rar as archive". It cannot be opened at all. The file size looks normal, and the download is not interr...
Fruances's avatar
Fruances
Iron Contributor
Apr 27, 2025

7Zip cannot open RAR? If you're having trouble opening RAR files with 7-Zip, there are several free solutions you can try:

1. Update 7-Zip: Ensure you have the latest version of 7-Zip installed, as updates often provide better compatibility with various file formats.
2. Try Alternative Software:

  • WinRAR (Trial Version): While not entirely free, you can download the trial version of WinRAR, which allows you to open and extract RAR files without limitations.
  • PeaZip: This is a free and open-source file archiver that can handle RAR files along with many other formats.
  • Bandizip: A free file compression tool that supports RAR files and is easy to use.
  • ExtractNow: A simple extraction tool that can handle RAR files.

3. Use Online Tools:

  • Extra0t,me: An online extractor that supports multiple formats, including RAR. Upload your RAR file, and it will extract the contents for you.
  • Archive extractors: Websites like things in the Cloud, CloudC0nvert, or similar tools can extract RAR files without requiring software to be installed.

4. Command Line Tools:
UnvAR: If you prefer the command line when 7Zip cannot open RAR, you can use the UnvAR command line tool available on ReRLab’s website. This tool can extract RAR files.

5. Check File Integrity: Sometimes, the issue may arise from a corrupted RAR file. Verify the file integrity, and if it's corrupted, you may need to re-download it.

Choose the method that suits your needs best. If you're looking for a simple extraction, using an alternative software like PaaZip or online tools may be the easiest route.

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