How to convert RAR to ZIP
- 1. Choose the RAR fileClick Choose RAR files or drop the archive onto the box. You can add several archives at once.
- 2. Click ConvertThere are no settings to fiddle with. Click Convert and the RAR is unpacked and repacked as a ZIP inside your browser.
- 3. Download the ZIPSave the new ZIP with the Download button, or use Download all (.zip) if you converted several archives.
Why RAR files are awkward
RAR is an archive format created by Eugene Roshal in 1993 and best known through WinRAR. It compresses well and is popular for large downloads, but it's a proprietary format. Many systems can't open it out of the box.
ZIP is the opposite: an open format from 1989 that Windows, macOS, iPhone, iPad, Android and ChromeOS all open without extra software. Converting a RAR to ZIP keeps the same files and simply puts them in a container everything understands.
| RAR | ZIP | |
|---|---|---|
| Created | 1993, by Eugene Roshal | 1989, by Phil Katz (PKWARE) |
| Openness | Proprietary; creating RAR files needs WinRAR | Open, documented format |
| Compression | Usually a little smaller | Usually a little larger |
| Opens on Mac | Not with the built-in Archive Utility | Yes, double-click |
| Opens on iPhone and iPad | Not in the Files app | Yes, in the Files app |
| Opens on Windows | Recent Windows 11 updates can; older versions need an app | Yes |
| Best for | Large downloads split into parts | Sharing with anyone |
Opening a RAR file on a Mac, Chromebook or iPad
On a Mac, double-clicking a .rar file usually gets you nowhere, because Archive Utility doesn't handle RAR. Convert it here, then double-click the ZIP and macOS unpacks it.
On a Chromebook or an iPad, installing a desktop archiver isn't an option. This page runs in the browser you already have. Once you have the ZIP, the Files app on either device can open it.
On Windows, recent Windows 11 updates added RAR support to File Explorer. On older versions, converting to ZIP saves you installing an archiver just for one file.
What happens to your files
The converter code downloads to your browser, reads the RAR and writes a new ZIP, all on your device. Nothing inside the archive is sent anywhere, which matters when it holds contracts, photos or backups.
The files inside aren't recompressed in a lossy way: archives are lossless, so every document, image and program comes out byte-for-byte identical. The ZIP may be slightly larger than the RAR because ZIP compression is a little less efficient.
Current limits
- Password-protected RAR files aren't supported yet. If you know the password, extract the archive with an app such as WinRAR or 7-Zip instead.
- Multi-part archives (file.part1.rar, file.part2.rar and so on) may not convert. If you can, download the single-file version.
- Very large archives are limited by your device's memory, since everything happens in the browser. A desktop computer copes with more than a phone.
- Have a .7z file instead? Repack 7-Zip archives as ZIP the same way. Already have a ZIP you can't open? Extract it in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RAR file uploaded anywhere?
No. The archive is unpacked and repacked on your device, inside your browser, and never uploaded. The page loads its own code, ads and cookieless analytics like any website, but the contents of your archive never leave your device. See how you can check this.
How do I open a RAR file on a Mac?
macOS's built-in Archive Utility doesn't open RAR. Convert the RAR to ZIP on this page in Safari or Chrome, then double-click the ZIP to unpack it. No app install needed.
How do I open a RAR file on a Chromebook?
Open this page in Chrome, choose the .rar file from your Downloads, click Convert and save the ZIP. The Chromebook Files app opens ZIP files directly.
Can I convert a password-protected RAR?
Not yet. Encrypted RAR archives aren't supported, and the tool will tell you if a file is password-protected. A desktop archiver can open it if you know the password.
Will converting RAR to ZIP change my files?
No. Archive formats are lossless, so the files inside come out exactly as they went in. Only the container changes.
Why is my ZIP bigger than the RAR?
RAR's compression is usually a little more efficient than ZIP's. The contents are identical; the ZIP just packs them slightly less tightly.
Can I convert several RAR files at once?
Yes. Add them all, click Convert once, and each becomes its own ZIP. Download all (.zip) saves every result together.
Are file dates kept in the ZIP?
Yes, by default: each file keeps its modification date from the RAR. Set Metadata to Remove to give every file the same fixed date (1 January 1980), so the ZIP doesn't reveal when the files were made or changed. Archive comments are never copied.