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How To Open and Extract RAR Files on Your Mac in 6 Steps # How To Open and Extract RAR Files on Your Mac in 6 Steps Written by Indeed Editorial Team Updated December 16, 2025 ### On this page - [What is a RAR file?](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-open-rar-files-on-mac#toc-what-is-a-rar-file) - [How to open RAR files on a Mac](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-open-rar-files-on-mac#toc-how-to-open-rar-files-on-a-mac) - [Benefits of using RAR files](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-open-rar-files-on-mac#toc-benefits-of-using-rar-files) - [Tips for opening RAR files on a Mac](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-open-rar-files-on-mac#toc-tips-for-opening-rar-files-on-a-mac) ### On this page - [What is a RAR file?](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-open-rar-files-on-mac#toc-what-is-a-rar-file) - [How to open RAR files on a Mac](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-open-rar-files-on-mac#toc-how-to-open-rar-files-on-a-mac) - [Benefits of using RAR files](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-open-rar-files-on-mac#toc-benefits-of-using-rar-files) - [Tips for opening RAR files on a Mac](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-open-rar-files-on-mac#toc-tips-for-opening-rar-files-on-a-mac) RAR files allow professionals to send large documents in a condensed format. Opening these compressed files on a Mac requires a specific tool and a set of steps to open or upload items. Learning how to use this process can help you download and send important files using your computer.In this article, we explain what RAR files are, the steps you can use to open these files on your Mac, the benefits of using RAR files and tips for opening RAR files on a Mac.Key takeaways - A RAR file is compressed, which means it can hold many files at once. This makes it useful for downloading and sending large numbers of files. - After opening a RAR file on Mac, you can access it like a folder to use and open the files you need. - Free extracting tools are necessary to open RAR files on Mac, and it may be beneficial to review several before determining which is best for you. \  ## Your personal AI career coach is on the app Find and apply to jobs 7x faster with Career Scout, only available on the app [Learn more](https://www.indeed.com/careerscout?from=jobseeker_marketing&sid=career_scout_us_career_guide_desktop_promo)Source: Indeed Data, US, based on median, compared to job seekers who use mobile app ## What is a RAR file? RAR stands for Roshal Archive compressed files. Users send these files in a folder that contains many documents. Any file sent through this type of folder uses the .rar file extension. Because they're compressed, RAR files can only be opened through a specific software program. Since many email servers don't support sending or downloading large files, using RAR files allows you to send bigger groups of documents in a single communication. Related: [How To Write a Professional Email](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-a-professional-email) ## How to open RAR files on a Mac Since Macs don't support RAR files through default operations, opening this type of file on an Apple Computer requires a specific file downloader and converter. Here are the steps you can follow to open a file with a .rar extension on a Mac: ### 1\. Choose the right extraction tool While there are plenty of applications to choose from, the best one for your professional communication depends on how you plan to use the tool. If you occasionally have compressed files, a basic system like Unarchiver may work well. Many of these tools are free to download and install on your device. If you don’t extract files often, you can uninstall the program when you’re finished using it. These are some extracting tools you can use on Mac: - [Unarchiver](https://theunarchiver.com/) - [Keka](https://www.keka.io/en/) - [UnRarX](https://unrarx.en.softonic.com/mac) - [StuffIt](https://stuffit.com/) ### 2\. Download your chosen application Once you determine which extraction tool best meets your needs, download the application to your Mac through the app store or the program's website. Locate the file in your system so you can return to the program to make changes. You might also consider adding a shortcut if you use the tool often. It's a good idea to make sure you have enough disk space before you download the application. Related: [How To Open EXE Files on a Mac: A Guide With 3 Methods](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-open-exe-files-on-mac) ### 3\. Preview the application After you secure enough disk space and download the application onto your Mac, access the program to start archiving and unarchiving your chosen files. Familiarize yourself with the app so you can recognize key features. Once the application is open, you can view, download and archive RAR files on your computer. Related: [11 Tips To Help You Manage Your Electronic Files](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/file-management) ### 4\. Launch the application With your extraction tool open, use the controls to select a file to compress or decompress. You can typically move a file directly into your application once it's open. After you drop the file into the program, find the item and choose extract. Next, choose where to send the file and click on the tab for "done." Related: [Computer Skills: Definitions and Examples](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/computer-skills) ### 5\. Choose your file to archive or unarchive You can also choose to access a file to archive or unarchive by finding that file on your Mac and right-clicking on it. When the option menu opens, choose "Open With," then click on your extraction tool. You may have the choice to save the file as a different extension so be sure to choose the .rar option. When choosing files to archive as one group, it may be easier if you put them in a single file ahead of time so you can access the entire group of documents at once. Related: [3 Reasons Why Documentation Is Important](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/hr-documentation) ### 6\. Open and redistribute files as needed After opening and accessing your files or compressing a set of items, organize your documents. You may decide to save certain files to other areas, like a cloud storage drive or a personal folder. It may be helpful to create a folder specifically for archived and unarchived files. Related: [11 Online Jobs for Work Flexibility](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/online-jobs) ## Benefits of using RAR files Though using RAR files may create extra steps for downloading and opening files, RAR files offer multiple benefits to Mac users. These are some benefits you may experience when using and importing RAR files: - Capacity for more information in a single file - Ability to easily bundle large amounts of data - Option for [password protection on files](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/password-protect-zip-files) - Additional security for the sender and receiver ## Tips for opening RAR files on a Mac Downloading and compressing RAR files on a Mac can help you send and receive larger files or more files at one time. This efficient form of sending items benefits professionals across industries. Here are some tips to help you prepare RAR files: - Use RAR files to protect and secure sensitive files with a password. - Prepare to download RAR files through internet pages due to their speed and ease of compression. - Select RAR as an option for file downloads once you install your chosen extraction tool. - Rename an unarchived file to easily remember the content in a folder. - Find software to help you edit RAR files if necessary. - Consider using an online extractor tool that doesn't require a download to your device, like Unzip-Online. - Set the RAR extraction tool as your default option in your settings menu if you plan to use the application often. - Verify the source before extracting an RAR file to ensure the safety of your Mac and the information contained in the archives. - Convert Zip files to RAR files as needed using your extraction tool. - Recover files with an error through RAR extraction tools. Please note that none of the products or companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed. \  The information on this site is provided as a courtesy and for informational purposes only. Indeed is not a career or legal advisor and does not guarantee job interviews or offers \  Share: ## Related Articles page 1 of 4 slide1 of 12  ### [How To Open EXE Files on a Mac (With 3 Methods And FAQ)](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-open-exe-files-on-mac) slide2 of 12  ### [3 Ways To Create a Zip File on a Mac or PC: A How-To Guide](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-create-zip-file) slide3 of 12  ### [How To Change File Types on Windows, Mac and Other Programs](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-change-file-type) slide4 of 12  ### [How To Change DOCX to DOC To Optimize Your File Types](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-change-docx-to-doc) slide5 of 12  ### [How To Learn R in 4 Steps (With Definition and Benefits)](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-learn-r) slide6 of 12  ### [How To Change Screen Font Size on Windows and Mac Devices](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-change-font-size) slide7 of 12  ### [How To Repair an Excel File (With Multiple Methods)](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-repair-excel-file) slide8 of 12  ### [How To Remove Password Protection in Excel](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-remove-password-excel) slide9 of 12  ### [A Guide To Using Bookmarks in Microsoft Word](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-bookmark-in-word) slide10 of 12  ### [How To Create an HTML Email (With Tips)](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-create-html-email) slide11 of 12  ### [Learn How To Use a Computer in 7 Steps (Plus Expert Tips)](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-learn-to-use-computer) slide12 of 12  ### [How To Take Ownership of a Windows Folder or File in 8 Steps](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-take-ownership) 1 / 41 / 4 ## Explore more articles - [Interview Question: "Why Are You Interested in This Internship?"](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/why-are-you-interested-in-this-internship) - [How Far Is a Klick in Military Terms?](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-far-is-a-klick-in-military-terms) - [How To Calculate Market Share (Definition and Examples)](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-calculate-market-share) - [Life on a Rig: How Long Do Oil Rig Workers Stay on the Rig?](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-long-do-oil-rig-workers-stay-on-the-rig) - [Direct vs. Indirect Communication: Definition and Differences](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/direct-communication) - [15 Careers for Avid Readers (With Job Duties and Salaries)](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/careers-for-readers) - [37 Best Questions To Ask Employees in Stay Interviews](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/stay-interviews-questions) - [15 Inside Sales Representative Skills and How To Improve Them](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/inside-sales-representative-skills) - [25 Work-When-You-Want Jobs (With Salaries and Duties)](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/work-when-you-want-jobs) - [Single vs. Double-Loop Learning: Definitions and Differences](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/single-vs-double-loop-learning) - [FAQ: What Is Working on a Cruise Ship Like?](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-is-working-on-cruise-ship-like) - [How to Become an Archaeologist: Education Requirements and Steps](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-become-an-archaeologist) [Hiring Lab](https://www.hiringlab.org/) [Career advice](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice) [Browse jobs](https://www.indeed.com/browsejobs) [Browse companies](https://www.indeed.com/companies/browse-companies) [Salaries](https://www.indeed.com/career/salaries) [Indeed Events](https://www.indeedevents.com/) [Work at Indeed](https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Indeed/about) [Countries](https://www.indeed.com/worldwide) [About](https://www.indeed.com/about) [Help](https://www.indeed.com/help) [ESG at Indeed](https://www.indeed.com/esg?from=gnav-career-guide--career-guide-webapp) © 2026 Indeed [Your Privacy Choices](https://www.indeed.com/legal/ccpa-dns?hl=en) [Accessibility at Indeed](https://www.indeed.com/esg/accessibility?hl=en) [Privacy Center and Ad Choices](https://hrtechprivacy.com/brands/indeed#privacypolicy) [Terms](https://www.indeed.com/legal?hl=en)