How to Download WinRAR on Windows & Mac (and Fix Common Issues)

WinRAR is one of those tiny utilities that quietly makes your life easier: it opens RAR, ZIP and many other archive formats, creates compressed files, and includes useful extras (password protection, split archives, self-extracting EXEs). But people often get tripped up during install, when an archive is damaged, or when they’re dealing with multi-part downloads. Below you’ll find plain, human instructions for Windows and Mac plus the most reliable fixes for the problems you’ll actually encounter.

What this guide covers

• How to safely download and install WinRAR on Windows (including choosing 32- vs 64-bit).

• How to get WinRAR (or equivalent tools) working on macOS.

• Everyday tasks: extract, compress, make split archives, set file associations.

• Fixes for the common problems: corrupted archives, “next volume is required,” CRC errors, and “RAR won’t open.”

• FAQs.

1) Downloading and installing WinRAR on Windows

• Go to the official site always download from the official WinRAR page (Click on Download WinRAR to automaticity download winrar). Avoid third-party download sites that can bundle junk.

• Alternatively Choose the right version from WinRAR download page most modern PCs run 64-bit Windows. Check: Settings → System → About → System type. Download the matching installer (32-bit or 64-bit).

• Run the installer double-click the downloaded .exe. Follow the setup wizard (install).

• Choose file associations in the installer you can pick which archive types WinRAR should open (.rar, .zip, .7z, etc.). You can leave it at default pick what you want and hit ok.

• Test  right-click a .rar or .zip file and try “Open with WinRAR” or “Extract here” to confirm it works.

WinRAR shows a trial popup but remains fully usable after the trial. It’s lightweight and usually installs in seconds.

2) WinRAR on macOS

• Go to the official RAR/WinRAR download page.

• Download the macOS package (look for the macOS or Unix command-line build). The download is usually a small installer or archive containing rar/unrar binaries.

• Open the downloaded file (double-click the .dmg, .pkg or .tar.gz). If macOS shows a security prompt, click Open or Allow.

• If a Terminal step appears, follow it some official builds finish installation via a brief Terminal message (e.g., “Process completed”). If the package is a simple installer, follow the on-screen installer steps and click Install → Done.

• Verify the install: open Terminal and type unrar and press Enter. If the utility is installed you’ll see usage text rather than “command not found.”

• Use the command line or integrate with GUI: you can extract with unrar x file.rar (in Terminal) or use a GUI app (below) that calls the installed binaries.

If you prefer clicking instead of Terminal, use a small Mac app that integrates with Finder.

1. Install The Unarchiver or Keka (both are popular, free/low-cost apps). Open the App Store or the app’s official website and download it.

2. Open the app once to allow it permissions. In The Unarchiver’s Preferences, enable the RAR format so Finder will use it automatically.

3. Double-click a RAR file (or right-click → Open With → The Unarchiver) and the files will extract to a folder. That’s it easy and safe.

If you already use Homebrew, you can add a small utility and work from Terminal.

1. Install Homebrew (if you don’t have it) by following the instructions at brew.sh.

2. Open Terminal and run one of these commands (depending on which tool you prefer):

   • brew install unrar installs the unrar utility (if available in your Homebrew taps).

   • or brew install unar an alternative unarchiver that handles RAR and many other formats.

3. Verify by running unrar or unar in Terminal and checking the usage output.

4. Extract with a command like unrar x archive.rar or unar archive.rar.

3) Basic WinRAR usage

• To extract: right-click an archive → choose Extract Here, Extract to [folder], or open WinRAR and click Extract to.

• To compress: select files/folders → right-click → Add to archive… → choose RAR or ZIP, name the archive and pick compression level → OK.

• Power features: password encryption, split archives (useful for sending very large files), and self-extracting .exe archives for Windows users who don’t have WinRAR.

Tip: If you need the most compatibility with recipients, create .zip archives Windows can open them without extra software.

4) Problems And Fixes

A: “Next volume is required” (multi-part archives)

This happens when an archive is split into parts (filename.part01.rar, filename.part02.rar, or file.rar, file.r00, file.r01, etc.). WinRAR needs the first part plus the rest available in the same folder.

How to fix:

• Make sure you downloaded all parts. If you only have part01 and not part02, extraction will stop.

• Put all parts in the same folder and open the first part (usually part01.rar or .rar) and extract.

• If WinRAR prompts for the next file, use the browse button to locate it manually.

B: “Unexpected end of archive” / CRC errors / corrupted header

These messages mean the archive is damaged (incomplete download, transfer error, disk problem).

Simple fixes:

• Redownload the archive from the original source if possible. Interrupted downloads are the most common cause.

• Use WinRAR’s built-in repair: open WinRAR → select the corrupt archive → Tools → Repair archive (or press Alt+R). Choose “Treat the corrupt archive as RAR” if prompted. WinRAR will create a rebuilt archive you can try to extract.

• Force extraction of partial files: right-click → Open with WinRAR → Extract to → in extraction options, check Keep broken files. This will extract anything salvageable (some files may still be damaged).

• If repair fails, try a dedicated recovery tool (examples used by many users: Recovery Toolbox for RAR, Repairit RAR File Repair, EaseUS/other file-repair tools). These tools can sometimes recover more data but are third-party read reviews and use with caution.

C: Archive won’t open at all

• Confirm file extension and that the file is fully downloaded.

• Try opening with WinRAR (not just double click). Use Tools → Repair.

• Try alternative extractors (The Unarchiver on Mac, 7-Zip on Windows) sometimes they handle strange archives differently.

D: “Keeps asking for a password”

If the archive is password-protected you will need that password. There’s no legal or safe way to bypass a password without it using brute-force tools is slow and often illegal if you don’t own the content.

5) Best practices to avoid problems

• Download from trusted sources and always verify you have the full set of parts for split archives.

• Use a download manager for very large files to avoid corruption from interrupted downloads.

• Keep backups of important archives before you try repair operations.

• Antivirus scan downloaded archives before opening; malware can hide inside archives.

• Choose .zip for maximum compatibility when sending files to others who may not have WinRAR.

6) Mobile and Mac fixes

• Android: WinZip, RAR (from RARLAB), or other archive apps from Google Play.

• iPhone/iPad: iZip or similar apps via Share → Open in…

• Mac: If a RAR won’t open in Finder, install The Unarchiver or run the command-line unrar/rar tools if you’re comfortable with Terminal.

FAQs

Q: Is WinRAR free?
Technically it’s a trial, but WinRAR remains functional after the trial period; you’ll see purchase reminders.

Q: Can WinRAR open ZIP files?
Yes WinRAR supports ZIP, 7z, TAR, ISO and many more formats.

Q: Why does WinRAR say CRC failed?
CRC failure indicates data mismatch usually caused by an incomplete download or corruption. Try redownloading or use the Repair tool.

Q: What if extraction stops at 80MB of 900MB (keep broken files truncates)?
Use the “Keep broken files” option to salvage what you can. If truncation happens early, specialized recovery tools might extract more, but there’s no guarantee.

Q: I downloaded file.part01.rar but extraction asks for file.part02.rar. what now?
Download the missing parts and place them in the same folder; open the first part and extract.