Zip files turn into rar files well downloading

A Roshal Archive or RAR file is a common type of file archive that your small business may encounter when someone shares data with you or when you download files from a website. Proprietary to the WinRAR application, this format allows for smaller file sizes due to compression, the use of multiple split archives and support for security features such as encryption. These features make the archive format popular for sending sensitive documents as well as large files. If you don't want to pay for WinRAR or can't install the app on your system, you have several free alternatives for opening RAR files on Mac, Linux or Windows, but you'll need the official WinRAR app to create any RAR archives.

With versions available for Windows and Linux, 7-ZIP offers a free alternative to WinRAR that you can use for opening RAR files. This app has an archive file format called 7Z, which is known for having better compression capabilities than RAR and ZIP files.

After you install 7-ZIP and launch it, you'll see a file browser where you can navigate to the RAR file. Double-click the RAR file to view its contents without extracting them. Otherwise, click the RAR file, select Extract in the top menu and fill in the options for the destination extraction location and any archive password. Then click OK to extract the files to the chosen folder.

PeaZip is another tool for Windows and Linux machines that you can use to open RAR files without needing WinRAR. However, it's different in that it also allows you to create archives in custom formats like RAR, but only if you also have WinRAR installed on your system.

When you install PeaZip, it usually sets itself as your operating system's default unarchiver tool. You can then right-click your file in your computer's file explorer tool, choose the PeaZip option from the pop-up menu and click Extract Here to create a folder with the RAR's contents.

You can also launch PeaZip and navigate to a RAR file in the browser. Double-click the file to see the contents without extracting them. To extract the RAR contents to a folder of your choice, click the file and select the Extract button on the PeaZip toolbar. Fill in the destination directory and password options and click OK.

If you use macOS on your work computer, download The Unarchiver free app from the Mac App Store. This app can open encrypted RAR files as well as those that span more than one volume. It also won't throw an error if the RAR file's name has foreign characters in it like other apps might.

After you install the app, right-click the RAR file in Finder and choose The Unarchiver from the Open with list. Enter the password if the RAR has encryption, and the app extracts the files to a new folder in the same directory.

If you don't have permission to install new applications for work or you prefer not doing so, you can use the Archive Extractor tool at the 123Apps website. Note that this option not only works for a single RAR file, but also can handle encrypted archives and works with any operating system.

Drag and drop the RAR file from your computer to the file area on the website. Respond with the archive's password if it has one, and the site extracts the RAR file. You can choose to download the files one at a time or download them all as a ZIP file that Windows, Linux and macOS support natively.

Ashley Donohoe started writing professionally online in 2010. Having a Master of Business Administration degree and experience running a small business, she is knowledgeable in the issues and decisions that small business owners face. Other places featuring her business writing include JobHero, LoveToKnow, Bizfluent, PocketSense and Study.com.