The best rar file opener that works on Windows and Mac?

Does Windows support opening .rar files by default? It is still no in 2025! You need a dedicated rar file opener app instead.

Windows does not support opening .rar files by default because the .rar file format is proprietary and was developed by Eugene Roshal, who also created the WinRAR software. Unlike .zip files, which are an open standard and supported natively by most operating systems (including Windows 11/10/8/7), the .rar format requires specific software to compress and decompress files.

Microsoft chose not to include native support for .rar files in Windows because it is a proprietary format, and licensing the technology from Roshal's company would involve additional costs and legal considerations. Instead, Microsoft focused on supporting open standards like .zip, which are widely used and do not require licensing fees.

To work with .rar files on Windows, users need to install third-party rar file opener software such as 7-Zip, or other compatible programs. These tools provide the necessary functionality to extract and create .rar archives. On macOS, the situation is similar, as Apple's Finder does not natively support .rar files either, requiring users to rely on third-party apps like The Unarchiver or Keka.