Method #1 – Convert RAR Format to ZIP Using WinRAR. Step 1: Right click the RAR file you want to convert and select Open with RAR from the context menu. Step 2: Once the RAR file opens in WinRAR application, click Tools tab and then select convert archives. Step 3: Now, Convert archives window will open, in that checkmark RAR in Archive Types. You can even convert you RAR file to a Winzip file also. This is such a fast utility that just focuses on RAR file. Extract RAR files easily. Fine-tuned for speed, RAR Opener works very fast without consuming a lot of memory. Expand your access and save time with this versatile app. Streamlined user interface.
In this article, we look at how to compress and decompress files on a Mac and the ways you can do that with different formats.
RAR vs. ZIP files: What is the difference?
Everyone knows what a ZIP file is. Once you've made a folder, you click on File and scroll down to “Compress “[file name]” and that turns whatever folder you’re compressing into a ZIP file.
Wherever you send it, whether someone is using a macOS device or Windows — or other operating system — a ZIP folder can be decompressed and opened. It is one of the most convenient ways to send large files in a single folder, usually through email or messenger platforms.
Some email systems, such as Gmail, limit the file size, so if something is too large they convert the contents into a Google Drive folder. And ZIP folders can be uploaded and shared using file-transfer systems and cloud-storage solutions.
Easy, right?
Yes, in most cases — unless the files have been corrupted or for some reason the receiving computer can’t decompress them — ZIPs work everywhere, on every device. ZIP files can be created and decompressed using native macOS systems that have worked this way since the file format was created.
One of the reasons ZIPs are so easy to create and unzip is they proprietary software was released into the public domain in 1989. Making ZIPs open-source, so that every operating system creator in the world could bake this into file formatting. Hence, how useful ZIPs are and why most people use them for sending and receiving large files on Mac’s.
A RAR file, on the other hand, is a little different.
RAR files are, in many ways, more secure. RAR files are a proprietary archive format (file prefixes usually look like .rar). RAR files are named after the Russian developer who created this format, and it stands for: Roshal ARchive files.
RAR files also benefit from being able to compress much larger amounts of data. It is said they can compress up to one billion gigabytes (also known as an exabyte). They compress and transmit more quickly. RAR files are more secure, can be password protected (as can ZIPs) and even encrypted, using AES-256 encryption.
How to compress and decompress RAR files on a Mac?
RAR files are more complicated to compress and decompress.
With RAR files being the result of proprietary software, you need to download software to create and decompress RAR files on your Mac. Apple’s Archive Utility does not support RAR, so you need to find another way to work with these files.
One option is The Unarchiver, a free third-party macOS app.
With this, a MacPaw app, you can open RAR on Mac. It’s times more powerful than the native macOS utility and supports infinitely more archive formats. Download and install The Unarchiver. It’s free and there is no need for in-app purchases. Now whenever you want to send or receive a RAR file, use The Unarchiver to compress and decompress these files. It really is as easy as that! Over time, ZIP and RAR files can take up space. This can slow your Mac down. Or maybe you’ve lost a file and want to find it again. We've got a solution for those problems.
How to find your hidden archives?
Sometimes we download an archive, unpack it and then forget to delete the archive. Over time, they occupy more and more space and clutter up our hard drive. Here is a tip on how to find and delete ZIP, RAR and other files that you don't need anymore.
- Firstly, get CleanMyMac X (Download a free version here)
- Now click Large & Old files
- Next sort the results by Archives: this will show hidden and forgotten ZIP and RAR files;
- Either delete or unzip/decompress them and free up some space.
As you can see, I’ve found 6.6 GB worth of archives on my Mac.
Something else CleanMyMac X can do is find hidden files with the Space Lens feature. This way, you can more easily find what you've been looking for. It’s also a convenient way to clear out files that are taking up too much space when they're not needed anymore.
CleanMyMac X is a useful Mac performance improvement app. It can get your Mac running as good as new again. Creating more space and improving how other apps and the operating system performs, with maintenance scripts and other handy tools.
Sometimes, you may require converting your RAR files to ZIP format. There are a lot of third-party tools available to do the job, but may not be free. Instead, you can use WinRAR on Windows that help you convert RAR files to ZIP files. Let’s see how it is done.
There are 2 ways to convert RAR files to ZIP format. For both, you need WinRAR installed on your PC.
Method #1 – Convert RAR Format to ZIP Using WinRAR
Step 1: Right click the RAR file you want to convert and select Open with RAR from the context menu.
Step 2: Once the RAR file opens in WinRAR application, click Tools tab and then select convert archives.
Step 3: Now, Convert archives window will open, in that checkmark RAR in Archive Types section. Immediately, all the RAR files will be listed in Archives to convert box. You can click Add button if you want add more RAR files. You can Browse the location to save the converted file else, it will be saved in the same destination where RAR files are located. Now click Compress.
Step 4: Set default compression options window will open, here select tab General and then in the Archive format section select ZIP and click OK.
Step 5: Again click OK in the Convert archives window. This will initiate the converting process and you can see the RAR files extracting and creating new ZIP files. Once the conversion is 100 % complete, click Close. You’ll see the new ZIP files in the location you chose to save.
File Converter Rar To Zip
Converting RAR format to ZIP is a very simple process and you shouldn’t have any problem while converting it in the right process. But if you encounter any error during or after the process and unable to open the RAR files then, you can make use of Remo RAR repair software, which seamlessly fixes any kind of error making the files accessible again.
Now let’s proceed with the second method.
Method #2: Convert RAR Files to ZIP by Decompressing
Mac Convert Rar To Zip Free
Step 1:Right-click the RAR file you want to convert and select Extract Here from the context menu.
Step 2: Once the folder is extracted, right-click it and choose Add to archive.
Step 3: In the window that opens click General tab and select ZIP in the “Archive format” section and click OK button. You’ll now have your RAR file converted to ZIP format.
Rar File Converter For Mac
You can use these methods to convert to other archive formats like 7z, zip, cab, Izh etc. While selecting the Archive format you can specify the required format to which you want to convert.