RAR is a compressed archive file format, which is commonly used to reduce the size of large files. Files with the RAR extension are usually created using WinRAR software. However, in order to extract these files, you need to have a third-party software installed on your computer. Windows 8 doesn’t have a built-in utility to decompress RAR files, so it’s necessary to install additional software. In this tutorial, we will discuss several methods to extract RAR files on Windows 8.
Video Tutorial:
Requirements
– Windows 8 or later operating system
– Third-party software to extract RAR files (such as WinRAR or 7-Zip)
– A RAR file to extract
What should be paid attention to?
Before you start extracting RAR files, make sure that you have a trusted third-party software installed on your computer. Some untrusted software may inject malware into your system which can cause serious damage to your computer. Moreover, always download the software from the official website of the developer to avoid any kind of vulnerability.
Method 1: Using WinRAR
WinRAR is one of the most popular software used for extraction of RAR files. Here are the steps to extract RAR files using WinRAR:
1. Install WinRAR software on your computer. You can download the software from the official website http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm.
2. Locate the RAR file that you want to extract and right-click on it.
3. Select "Extract Here" option from the context menu. This will extract the contents of the RAR file in the same folder where the RAR file is located.
4. If you want to extract the contents of the RAR file in a different folder, right-click on the RAR file and select "Extract To" option from the context menu.
5. Select the destination folder where you want to extract the contents of the RAR file and click on the "OK" button. This will extract the contents of the RAR file in the selected folder.
Method 2: Using 7-Zip
Another popular software to extract RAR files is 7-Zip. Here are the steps to extract RAR files using 7-Zip:
1. Download and install 7-Zip software from the official website http://www.7-zip.org/download.html.
2. Locate the RAR file that you want to extract and right-click on it.
3. Select "7-Zip" option from the context menu and then select "Extract Here".
4. This will extract the contents of the RAR file in the same folder where the RAR file is located.
5. If you want to extract the contents of the RAR file in a different folder, select "Extract To" option from the context menu and then select the destination folder where you want to extract the contents of the RAR file.
Method 3: Using PeaZip
PeaZip is another free software used for extraction of RAR files. Here are the steps to extract RAR files using PeaZip:
1. Download and install on the official website of Peazip http://www.peazip.org.
2. Run PeaZip software and locate the RAR file that you want to extract.
3. Select the RAR file and click on the "Extract" button in the toolbar.
4. A new window will appear. Select the destination folder where you want to extract the contents of the RAR file and click on the "OK" button.
5. This will extract the contents of the RAR file in the selected folder.
Method 4: Using Bandizip
Bandizip is a free software to extract RAR files on Windows 8. Here are the steps to extract RAR files using Bandizip:
1. Download and install Bandizip software from the official website http://www.bandisoft.com/bandizip/.
2. Locate the RAR file that you want to extract and right-click on it.
3. Select "Bandizip" option from the context menu and then select "Extract Here" or "Extract To" option. (Select Extract Here unless you want it to be extracted in a different folder)
4. This will extract the contents of the RAR file in the same folder where the RAR file is located or in the selected folder, depending on the option you have chosen.
Why can’t I extract Rar files?
There are many reasons why you cannot extract RAR files. Here are some possible reasons and their fixes:
1. The RAR file is corrupted or damaged. Please ensure that the RAR file is not corrupted.
2. The RAR file is password protected. If you don’t have the password, you cannot extract the contents of the file.
3. You don’t have appropriate software to extract the RAR files. Please make sure you have appropriate software installed, as explained in the methods above
Suggestions
It is always recommended to use trusted software from the official website of the developer. Some untrusted software can inject malware into your system which can cause serious damage to your computer.
FAQs
Q1: How to open a RAR file without downloading software?
A1: Unfortunately, there is no way to extract RAR files without downloading software. Windows 8 doesn’t have a built-in utility to decompress RAR files. You need to install additional software to extract RAR files.
Q2: How to open password protected RAR files?
A2: To open password protected RAR files, you need to enter the password when prompted during the extraction process. If you don’t have the password, you cannot extract the contents of the file.
Q3: What to do if the extracted files are not opening correctly?
A3: Corrupt or damaged RAR files can cause the extracted files to not open correctly. Make sure that the RAR file is not corrupted and, if it is, download the file again.
Q4: How to create RAR files?
A4: To create RAR files, you need to have a software like WinRAR or 7-Zip. Simply select the files that you want to compress and then right-click on them. Select the "Add to Archive" option and follow the on-screen instructions to create the RAR file.
Q5: Can I extract RAR files on Mac?
A5: Yes, you can extract RAR files on Mac by using third-party software like The Unarchiver, StuffIt Expander, or WinZip.
