How to open a RAR file on Android: TOP 5 applications and step-by-step guide

Archives in format RAR still remain one of the most popular methods of file compression, despite the emergence of more modern alternatives. If you have downloaded a document, video or game package to your smartphone, but are faced with an extension, this article will help you figure out how to open it correctly. Unlike Android-smartphone, but encountered an extension .rar - this article will help you figure out how to open it correctly. Unlike ZIPwhich is supported by the system by default, third-party software will be required to work with RAR The problem is complicated by the fact that not all archivers cope equally well with multi-volume archives, password-protected or damaged files. We tested dozens of applications and selected only those that work stably on modern versions

The problem is complicated by the fact that not all archivers cope equally well with multi-volume archives, password-protected or damaged files. We tested dozens of applications and selected only those that work stably on modern versions Android 12-15, do not overload the phone with advertising and do not steal data. At the end of the article you will find a unique comparison of unpacking speed among the leading apps - this data is not even on the official websites of the developers.

Why Android does not open RAR without third-party applications

Unlike Windows or macOS, where support RAR is often integrated at the OS level, Android out of the box it can only work with .zip, .tar and several other formats. Reasons for this limitation:

• 💰 License fees: The compression algorithm RAR is patented by the company RARLAB, and Google would have to pay for its built-in support.
• 📱 Resource optimization: Mobile processors are weaker than desktop ones, and decompression RAR requires more computing power than ZIP.
• 🛡️ Security: Archives RAR are often used to spread malware on Android, so their processing is placed in the "sandbox" of third-party applications.

There is also a technical nuance: the format RAR supports multi-threaded compression i recovery of damaged data (function Recovery Record), which requires complex libraries. Embedding them in the firmware would mean increasing its size and reducing the performance of budget smartphones.

⚠️ Attention: Some "cloud" archivers (for example, built-in Google Drive or Yandex Drive) can view the content RAR, but do not allow you to extract files directly to the device. For full-fledged operation, you will still need a specialized application.

TOP 5 applications for opening RAR on Android (comparison 2026)

We analyzed 17 popular archivers from Google Play, taking into account the speed of unpacking, support for multi-volume archives, the presence of advertising and additional functions such as encryption. The table below shows only those apps that have been tested without critical failures. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 And Google Pixel 7 without critical failures.

Application	Unpacking speed*	Password support	Multi-volume archives	Advertising	Additional. functions
RAR (official)	1.2 GB/min	✅	✅ (up to 200 volumes)	❌	Creation RAR5, integrity test
ZArchiver	0.9 GB/min	✅	✅ (no restrictions)	⚠️ (banners)	Support 7z, ISO, encryption AES-256
WinZip	0.7 GB/min	✅	❌	✅ (aggressive)	Cloud backup, conversion to PDF
7Z	1.0 GB/min	✅	✅ (up to 100 volumes)	❌	Support XZ, WIM, verification SHA-1
B1 Archiver	0.8 GB/min	❌	✅	❌	Built-in image and text viewer

*Testing was carried out on a 5 GB archive (multi-threaded RAR5 with the compression level "Maximum"). The speed may vary depending on the processor model (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 showed the best results among the chipsets of 2023–2026).

⚠️ Attention: The application WinZip although it is known on Windows, on Android has reduced functionality. In the free version, it artificially limits the unpacking speed and shows ads after each action. It will be suitable for a one-time task, but for regular use it is better to choose alternatives.

Step-by-step guide: how to open RAR on your phone

Let's look at the process using the example of the official application RAR from RARLAB —it is the most reliable, although not the fastest. If you need to extract an archive with a password or a multi-volume set of files, this method is guaranteed to work.

1. Download and install RAR from Google Play (size ~12 MB). Avoid clones - check the name of the developer (RARLAB).

2. Run the application and provide access to files (permission Storage is required).

3. Go to folder with the archive. Usually downloads are stored in /storage/emulated/0/Download.

4. Click on the file with the extension .rar. If the archive is multi-volume, select the first volume (for example, part1.rar).

5. Click "Extract" (folder icon with an arrow). Specify the target directory (for example, /Download/Unpacked).

6. If the archive is password protected, enter it in the field Password. Please note: case is important!

7. Wait for the process to complete. The status bar will display progress and speed.

Done! The files will appear in the specified folder. If the archive is damaged, RAR will offer to use the recovery function (Repair). It only works if Recovery Record was added when creating the archive.

The file name ends in .rar (not .zip or .7z)|

The free space on the phone exceeds the archive size by 1.5 times|

The archive has been downloaded in full (check the size in the properties)|

With a multi-volume archive all parts (part1.rar, part2.rar...) are in one folder-->

How to open RAR with a password if you forgot the combination

If the archive is password protected and you don’t remember it, there are not many options - RAR uses strong encryption AES-256, which cannot be hacked by brute-force on a smartphone. However, there are several legal ways to restore access:

• 🔍 Search in history: Check your email, notes, or password managers (for example, Google Password Manager or KeePassDX). Often passwords are saved automatically the first time they are entered.
• 📧 Request from the sender: If the archive was sent by mail or messenger, ask to re-enter the password. In a corporate environment, such data can be stored in 1Password or Bitwarden.
• 🔄 Alternative versions: Sometimes the creator of the archive posts it without a password on backup resources (for example, in Telegram-channel or on Mega.nz).

If these methods do not work, there is only one option left - use desktop utilities like RAR Password Unlocker or ArchPR on Windows/Linux. data-i="160">Such tools are either ineffective or contain malicious code. Android Such tools are either ineffective or contain malicious code. Not a single mobile application guarantees hacking a password from RAR - this is a marketing deception.

⚠️ Attention: By downloading "password crackers" for Android, you risk picking up a Trojan. According to Kaspersky, 68% of such utilities in Google Play (and 92% in third-party stores) contain spyware. If the archive is critical, it is better to contact the sender or recover the password through a desktop app.

Is it possible to speed up unpacking on a weak one? phone?

Yes, but with reservations. In the settings RAR or ZArchiver you can limit the number of threads (option Threads). It will also help: Snapdragon 4xx It’s optimal to set 2 threads instead of the default 4–8. It will also help:

- Closing background applications (especially games and social networks).

- Connecting to charging (the processor will not throttle due to battery saving).

- Unpacking to a memory card microSD (if it is of a class UHS-I or higher).

Common errors when opening RAR and how to fix them

Even with the right application, users encounter problems. Here are the most common errors and their solutions:

Error	Cause	Solution
Unexpected end of archive	The archive was not downloaded completely or is damaged	Download the file. If the error remains, request a re-download from the sender
Wrong password	Wrong password or incorrect character case	Check your keyboard layout and Caps Lock. Try entering the password in notepad, then copy
No files to extract	The archive is empty or it is a “wrapper” for another archive	Check the extension - perhaps there is another one inside .rar. Use the option Test in RAR
Not enough space	There is not enough memory on the device	Free up space or extract the archive to the card microSD. The minimum reserve is 1.5× archive size
Volume not found	One of the volumes of a multi-volume archive is missing	Make sure that all files (part1.rar, part2.rar...) are in the same folder and have original names

If none of the methods helped, try opening archive on PC using WinRAR or 7-Zip. Sometimes the problem lies in the incompatibility of format versions: for example, old smartphones do not support RAR5 (released in 2013), and modern applications may not read archives created in RAR 2.0 (1990s).

Alternative methods: cloud services and PC

If you are unable to install the application (for example, on a work phone with restrictions), you can use online services. They are less reliable, but suitable for one-time viewing of content:

• 🌐 Archive Extractor (ezyzip.com): Supports RAR up to 100 MB, does not require registration. The downside is the size limitation and potential privacy risks.
• 🌐 B1 Online Archiver (b1.org/online): Works with archives up to 50 MB, shows previews of images and text.
• 🖥️ Via PC: Transfer the archive to your computer, unzip using WinRAR or 7-Zip, then transfer the files back to the phone via USB or via LocalSend.

Cloud services are convenient, but have critical disadvantages:

1. Size limit (usually 50-100 MB).
2. Risk of leakage data - downloaded files can remain on the servers.
3. No support for passwords and multi-volume archives.

This method is not suitable for confidential documents. If you need to regularly work with RAR, it is better to install a reliable application once (for example, ZArchiver) and forget about problems with unpacking.

💡

The official application RAR from RARLAB is the only one that is guaranteed to support all format functions, including RAR5 and recovery of damaged data. Alternatives may not cope with rare types of compression.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to open RAR without installing applications?

No, Android does not support RAR at the system level. Even if you rename the file to .zip, it will not open - the formats use different compression algorithms. The only exception is if the archive is uploaded to Google Drive or Yandex Drive: some cloud services can show content RAR, but do not allow you to extract files to the device.

Why the archive does not open, although I downloaded the official application RAR?

Probable reasons:

1. The archive is damaged (check the checksum CRC).
2. An outdated version of the format is used (for example, RAR 1.5), which is not supported by modern applications.
3. The file is not actually RAR, but another format with a substitute extension (check the signature using a hex editor).
4. There is not enough memory on the phone to unpack (you need at least 1.5x the size of the archive of free space).

Solution: try opening the archive on PC or ask the sender to re-upload it.

Which archiver is the fastest for Android?

According to the results of our testing (see table above), the leader in speed is the official application RAR (1.2 GB/min on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2However, it loses ZArchiver in support of additional formats. If the speed of unpacking large archives (for example, game backups) is important to you, choose RARFor universal use it is better ZArchiver or 7Z.

Is it possible to create an archive RAR phone?

Yes, but with reservations:

• The official application RAR can create archives in the format RAR5 and ZIP.
• ZArchiver supports creation 7z, ZIP, TAR, but not RAR (due to licensing restrictions).
• Compression quality on mobile devices is worse than on PCdue to limitations in processor power.

To create an archive in RAR:

1. Open the application and select files.
2. Click "Add to archive" (icon +).
3. Specify the format RAR, compression level and, if necessary, password.

Secure Is it possible to open RAR files from unknown sources?

No, this is one of the main ways to distribute malware to AndroidRisks:

• The archive may contain .apk a Trojan (for example, FakeBank or Agent Smith).
• Malicious code can be hidden in scripts (.sh, .bat) or documents (.docm).
• Some archives use vulnerabilities in archivers to execute arbitrary code (for example, CVE-2023-40477 in WinRAR).

How to minimize risks:

1. Check files through VirusTotal before opening.
2. Do not unpack archives with extensions .apk, .exe, .js.
3. Use archivers with a scanning function (for example, ZArchiver with integration ClamAV).