Open RAR files on Mac
You can open an unencrypted RAR on a Mac with Terminal: tar -tf lists its contents, and tar -xf extracts them. Both use the Mac's built-in tools. If you prefer browsing files in a window, Kernir provides a RAR viewer, with the release status shown below.
Start by looking inside
A RAR is an archive containing files and folders. Changing its extension from .rar to .zip does not convert it. You need a tool that reads RAR data.
Archive Utility did not list RAR among its supported types in the project's macOS 26.2 check. The Mac's Terminal tool, tar, uses libarchive and can read RAR. This is the macOS version of tar; commands for a Linux installation may behave differently.
Open Terminal from Applications › Utilities. If your archive is in Downloads, run:
cd ~/Downloads
tar -tf "Notes.rar"
Replace Notes.rar with your archive's name. The command prints the paths inside it without extracting files. Quotes keep a name containing spaces together. To see sizes and other details as well, use tar -tvf "Notes.rar".
Listing is useful when you have several similarly named downloads: you can check which contains the document you need before creating another folder full of files.
Extract into a separate folder
Create a new folder in Finder, for example RAR output inside Downloads. Make sure it is empty. Then, while Terminal is still in Downloads, run:
tar -xvf "Notes.rar" -C "RAR output"
The -C option chooses the destination. The archive stays where it is, and its contents go into RAR output, retaining any folders stored in the archive. The command prints the names it extracts.
Use an empty destination because tar can replace an existing file with the same path without asking. You do not need sudo to extract into your own Downloads folder.
If Terminal reports that it cannot open the archive, check the filename and your current folder. If it reports damaged or truncated data, download the file again or ask the sender for a fresh copy. A password error needs a different response; see below.
Take out just one file
Copy the complete path from the listing, including its folders, and put it after the extraction options. For example, if the list contains Documents/notes.txt:
tar -xvf "Notes.rar" -C "RAR output" "Documents/notes.txt"
Only that entry is requested. You will find it inside RAR output/Documents. The filename alone is not enough if the entry is stored in a folder. See the single-file extraction guide for ZIP examples and destination options.
Browse a RAR in Kernir
Kernir is a free, open-source archive viewer and editor. Its Mac interface lets you browse a RAR without manually unpacking the whole archive first.
The Mac download is coming soon. You can view the source and build instructions on GitHub. The steps below describe the current app workflow.
With Kernir installed:
- Choose File › Open… (⌘O) and select the RAR.
- Browse its folders or use Find (⌘F) to search for a filename.
- Drag the file you need into Finder, or select entries and choose File › Extract… (⌘E) to choose a destination.
RAR is read-only in Kernir: you can read and extract it, but cannot add or delete entries in the original RAR. To make an editable copy, choose File › Save As… (⇧⌘S) and select ZIP or 7z as the format. Follow the RAR-to-ZIP conversion guide to create and check that copy.
Passwords and WinRAR
Kernir cannot decrypt encrypted RAR contents. The Terminal workflow above is also for unencrypted archives. If the sender used a password, ask for a compatible ZIP or use a tool that explicitly supports that RAR encryption. Knowing the password does not add encryption support to an application.
RARLAB's download page offers RAR for macOS as a command-line trial. Its WinRAR graphical downloads are for Windows. RARLAB's Mac tool can create RAR archives; Kernir cannot. If you are choosing a format for files you send, ZIP is a practical alternative that macOS can unpack with its built-in tools.
Kernir.dmg, signed and notarized. Requires macOS 14 or later.
Related guides
Built-in-tool examples are based on the project’s recorded macOS 26.2 checks. App steps were checked against source code. Updated .
