A quick guide for Windows and Mac users to open compressed RAR multimedia with ease
RAR (Roshal Archive) is the native archive file format for the WinRAR software that has a ".rar" extension. Files in RAR format can contain other files within them (such as video files) but their data is compressed, which is why media players such as Windows Media Player are unable to play RAR files directly. In order to play any file that has been compressed using the RAR system, you must first either use WinRAR to decompress the file (a procedure known as extraction) or use Dziobas RAR Player, which is a media player that is designed to automatically decompress RAR files to play them.
Things You Should Know
- Install WinRAR or Dziobas RAR Player.
- WinRAR can open more RAR files than Dziobas.
- After you have WinRAR installed, you can double-click a RAR file to open it.
Steps
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Go to the AfterDawn website to download and install WinRAR on your computer. -
Double-click on the RAR file stored on your computer. This will open the file in WinRAR.Advertisement -
Press the "Extract To" button in the taskbar at the top. -
Choose the destination path using the file browser at the top of the General tab. The destination path is the location of the folder where you want the extracted file to be saved. -
Hit the OK button at the bottom. The compressed files will be extracted to your designated folder. -
Browse to the folder where the extracted files are saved. Since these files are no longer compressed, you should be able to play using your regular media player such as Windows Media Player.
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Download the Dziobas player from the AfterDawn website. -
Run the downloaded installer to install the player on your computer. -
Open the Dziobas player by going to "All Programs" from your start menu and selecting the software from the list of programs. -
Click on "File" in the top-right corner and select "Open RAR (rewind)." -
Use the "Open" window that pops up to browse to the RAR file. -
Select the name of the RAR file and press the "Open" button. Dziobas will temporarily decompress the file that is in RAR format and begin playing it.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I play RAR videos on mobile?Community AnswerInstall a RAR app or zip extractor app; you can find one easily on Play Store or Android Market.
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QuestionIs there a way to do this without downloading any programs?Community AnswerNo, RAR files cannot be opened without a rar. file program. WinRAR is trusted, and even if it says 40 days trial, its unlimited.
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Tips
- Create a new folder for storing extracted files. This will make sure that you don't replace any files that already exist on your computer with the new files that are extracted.Thanks
- If you want to extract files in the same folder that contains the RAR file then just right-click on the RAR file and select "Extract Here" from the pop-up menu. You need the WinRAR software preinstalled for the "Extract Here" option to appear.Thanks
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Warnings
- Dziobas cannot play all RAR files. WinRAR supports more file formats than Dzobas, so if you are unable to play RAR files using the Dzbas player try extracting them with WinRAR instead.Thanks
- RAR files cannot be opened by WinZip or the native File Explorer of most operating systems.Thanks
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References
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 201,592 times.
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"Dziobas worked exactly as described."
