It’s honestly kind of annoying that macOS still doesn't handle RAR files natively. You double-click that .rar archive you just downloaded, and Archive Utility just sits there, looking at you like you’ve asked it to solve a riddle in a dead language. Apple's built-in tool is great for ZIPs, sure. But RAR? No luck. If you're looking for a Mac OS X RAR extractor, you've probably realized that the App Store is a bit of a minefield. It’s packed with "free" apps that immediately hit you with a subscription pop-up the second you try to unarchive a single folder.
People always ask why RAR even exists when ZIP is the universal standard. Basically, RAR (Roshal Archive) offers better compression and the ability to "split" archives into smaller chunks. Back when we were all using slow connections or physical media, that mattered a lot. Even now, it’s the go-to format for high-res assets, gaming mods, and large data dumps. If you're on a Mac, you need a way to open them. Fast.
✨ Don't miss: Why NASA Hubble Telescope Photos Still Look Better Than Modern Space Art
The Archiver Problem on macOS
Most people just head to the App Store and type in "RAR." Bad idea. You'll find dozens of apps with generic names like "RAR Opener Plus" or "Easy Unrar." A lot of these are what we call "wrapper apps." They use the same open-source UnRAR engine but slap a buggy, ad-filled interface on top.
Then there’s the issue of compatibility. Since the transition from Intel to Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3 chips), some older extractors haven't been updated. They might run through Rosetta 2, but they’ll be sluggish. If you’re working with a 50GB archive, you don’t want your CPU sweating more than it has to. You need something native.
The Standard: The Unarchiver
If you’ve spent any time in the Mac ecosystem, you’ve heard of The Unarchiver. It’s basically the "VLC of file compression." Developed originally by Dag Agren and now maintained by MacPaw, it’s the most reliable Mac OS X RAR extractor for 90% of people.
Why is it the king? It’s dead simple. You install it, tell it which file types to handle, and then it disappears. It doesn't have a flashy interface because it doesn't need one. You double-click your RAR, a small progress bar pops up, and your files appear in a folder. Done. It handles weird character encodings perfectly, too. If you’ve ever opened an archive and found the filenames are all gibberish because they were created on a Japanese or Windows system, The Unarchiver fixes that automatically.
However, it’s not perfect. It only extracts. If you need to create a RAR file on a Mac, The Unarchiver won't help you. It’s a one-way street.
For the Power Users: Keka
Keka is the one I personally use. It’s a bit of a weird name, but the app is a powerhouse. It’s open-source, which is always a plus in the tech world. You can download it for free from their website, or pay a few bucks on the App Store to support the developer.
Keka gives you a bit more "oomph." You can drag and drop files onto the Keka dock icon to compress them, or right-click to extract. It supports almost everything: RAR, 7Z, ZIP, TAR, GZIP, and even some archaic formats you haven't seen since 1998.
🔗 Read more: Finding the Air France Flight 447 Wreckage: Why it Took Two Years and Changed Everything
One thing Keka does better than most is handling encrypted RAR files. Sometimes, if a RAR has a password, Archive Utility or low-quality apps will just fail without telling you why. Keka gives you a clear prompt for the password. It also lets you split archives yourself. If you’re trying to email a massive file and need to break it into 20MB pieces, Keka is your best friend.
The Terminal Route: Homebrew and Unrar
Maybe you don't want an app at all. Maybe you're a developer or just like feeling like a hacker. You can install the original unrar tool via Homebrew.
- Open Terminal.
- Type
brew install unrar. - To extract a file, you just type
unrar x filename.rar.
It’s fast. It’s clean. There’s zero bloat. But, yeah, it’s not for everyone. If you’re not comfortable with the command line, stick to a GUI.
Dealing with Multi-Part RARs
This is where most people get tripped up. You download a file and see part1.rar, part2.rar, part3.rar. You try to open them individually, and the extractor throws an error.
Here is the secret: you only ever need to open the first part. A good Mac OS X RAR extractor will see the other parts in the same folder and automatically stitch them together. If you’re missing a part—even just one—the whole thing fails. Always make sure the filenames are identical except for the part number. If one is named data.part1.rar and the next is data (1).part2.rar, the extractor will lose its mind. Rename them so they match.
What About Security?
RAR files can be a bit of a security risk. Because they can be password-protected and highly compressed, they are occasionally used to hide malware from basic gatekeeper scans. macOS has built-in security like XProtect, but it’s always smarter to scan an extracted folder with something like Malwarebytes before you start clicking on executables inside.
Also, watch out for "RAR repair" tools. Most of the time, if a RAR is corrupted, it’s because the download was interrupted. Just redownload it. Don’t pay $30 for a "repair" utility that probably won't work anyway.
Picking the Right One for You
It really comes down to your workflow. If you just want RARs to "just work" like ZIPs, get The Unarchiver. It’s the closest thing to a native experience. If you need to create archives or want more control over compression levels, Keka is the winner. If you’re on a brand new MacBook Pro with an M3 chip, both of these are updated for Apple Silicon, so you won’t see any performance hits.
Don't bother with WinZip for Mac. It’s expensive and honestly feels like a dinosaur. It’s a relic of the Windows 95 era that somehow survived by charging subscriptions. You don't need it.
Actionable Steps for Your Mac
To get your system handling RAR files properly right now, follow these steps:
- Download Keka or The Unarchiver: Skip the generic App Store search results. Go directly to the official sites or look for these specific names.
- Set as Default: Right-click a RAR file, select "Get Info," go to the "Open with" section, choose your new extractor, and click "Change All." Now, every RAR will open with that app when you double-click.
- Check Your Permissions: If you're on macOS Sequoia or Sonoma, you might need to give the app "Full Disk Access" in System Settings if it struggles to extract files to certain folders like your Desktop or Downloads.
- Verify Multi-part Archives: If an extraction fails, check the file sizes of each part. If one is significantly smaller than the others (and it's not the last part), that's your culprit. Redownload that specific part.
By getting a dedicated tool, you stop fighting with macOS over basic file management. It takes two minutes to set up and saves a massive amount of frustration down the road.