Mac · Guide

How to Open RAR Files on a Mac

Short answer

macOS cannot open RAR archives on its own. Install Keka or The Unarchiver from the developer's site or the Mac App Store, set it as the handler for .rar files, then double-click the archive.

Requirements

A Mac running a current macOS release
The .rar file
Keka or The Unarchiver
The password, for encrypted archives

Steps

1. Install an archiver
Download Keka from keka.io, or install The Unarchiver from the Mac App Store. Both extract RAR and RAR5.
2. Allow the app on first launch
If macOS blocks the direct download, open System Settings > Privacy & Security and choose Open Anyway for the app you just installed.
3. Set the default handler
Right-click a .rar file, choose Get Info, set Open with to your archiver, and click Change All so every RAR opens the same way.
4. Extract the archive
Double-click the file. The contents appear in the folder you configured — by default, alongside the archive.
5. Handle multi-part archives
For files named part1.rar, part2.rar and so on, keep them all in one folder and open part1. The archiver pulls in the rest automatically.

Alternative methods

1. Use the command line
If you have Homebrew, brew install unar gives you a command-line extractor: unar archive.rar.
2. Ask for a different format
If you regularly receive RAR files, asking the sender for ZIP or 7Z avoids the extra tooling entirely.

Troubleshooting

Double-clicking opens the wrong app

Use Get Info > Open with > Change All to reassign the .rar extension.

"The archive is damaged" appears

Usually an incomplete download or a missing volume. Re-download all parts and try again.

Extraction produces a .cpgz loop

That happens when Archive Utility is handling a format it does not understand. Assign the file to Keka or The Unarchiver instead.

Frequently asked questions

Can I create RAR files on a Mac?

Not with free tools. RAR creation requires RARLAB software; Mac archivers extract RAR only.

Is The Unarchiver or Keka better?

The Unarchiver is simpler and extraction-only. Keka also creates 7Z and ZIP archives with encryption.