Extract text from compressed archives (RAR)
To convert RAR archives to another format, you need WinRAR or other Compressed software.
To convert other file formats to the "Archive File" file type, you need software like WinRAR or a similar tool.
A .RAR (Roshal Archive) is a proprietary archive file format used for data compression, error recovery, and file spanning. It bundles multiple files and folders into a single compressed package to save disk space and reduce transfer times. The format was created by Eugene Roshal and is natively managed by WinRAR. You can read more about its technical specifications on the RAR Wikipedia page.
The primary disadvantage of the .RAR format is its proprietary nature. Unlike open formats, you need specific third-party software like WinRAR to create .RAR archives. For decades, Windows users had to install external tools to extract them, and while Windows 11 finally introduced native read support, macOS, iOS, and Android users still struggle to open these files without downloading extra apps. Furthermore, WinRAR is shareware, subjecting users to a perpetual nag screen asking for payment after 40 days.
Because of these compatibility walls, you should convert .RAR files if you plan to share them. For universal distribution and web downloads, convert .RAR to ZIP. Every modern operating system opens ZIP natively. For long-term archiving with high compression, convert to 7Z, which is completely open-source. Drag and drop your file here to analyze, extract, and convert it - free, online, and without installing software.
Convert.Guru analyzes your RAR file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted ZIP, PDO, NSP, C4D, SCS, RPF, YTD, EXE, IR, PAK, XCI, BIN and EX4 files.
If you want to convert RAR file to ZIP, PDF, FILE, MP4, JPG, ISO, MP3, STL, 7Z, TAR, GZ or BZ2, you can use WinRAR or similar software from the "Compressed Archive Storage" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert XXE, 7Z, Z, PAK, LHA, DEB, UUE, TAR, LZH, ZIP, PKG or ARJ files to RAR, try WinRAR or another comparable tool in the "Compressed Archive Storage" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our RAR converter.