This wikiHow article will show you how to download WinRAR and use it to open RAR files on a Windows computer. RAR files are compressed containers that cannot be opened without special software, in this case, WinRAR. You probably want to use another program and not WinRAR if you need to open RAR files on a Mac.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Install WinRAR

Step 1. Enter the WinRAR installation site
Enter to
http://www.win-rar.com/download.html?&L=0
in your default browser.

Step 2. Click Download WinRAR
This blue button is at the top of the page. Clicking there will open an advertisement page.
- If you are on the 64 bit version of Windows, you can click the link Click here below the blue button. Check how many bits you have before clicking on the 64 bit link.

Step 3. Click the Continue link to download WinRAR
You will see it at the top of the page. This will open the WinRAR configuration file for download to your computer.
Depending on your browser, you will first have to confirm the download or select a location to save it

Step 4. Double click on the configuration file
It is a multicolored file that you will find in the default download location of your computer.

Step 5. Click Yes when it appears
This will open the WinRAR installer.

Step 6. Click Install
It's at the bottom of the installer window. This will start to install WinRAR on the computer.

Step 7. Make sure the "RAR" box is checked
This option is in the upper left of the WinRAR window.

Step 8. Click OK, then click Ready.
WinRAR is already installed on your computer, which means that you can start extracting all the RAR files you have.
Part 2 of 2: Use WinRAR

Step 1. Open WinRAR
The WinRAR application looks like a pile of books.

Step 2. Click File
It's in the upper-left corner of the WinRAR window.

Step 3. Click Open File
This option is at the top of the drop-down menu for File.

Step 4. Select the RAR file
WinRAR will open your desktop by default; if the RAR file is there, select it.
If the RAR file is not on the desktop, you can navigate to the RAR file location by clicking through the folders on the left of the window

Step 5. Click Open
This button is at the bottom of the window. This will open a RAR file within the WinRAR window.
You can view the contents of the RAR file in WinRAR

Step 6. Click Extract To
It's a brown folder-shaped icon at the top left of the WinRAR window.

Step 7. Select a location to extract your files to
Click on a destination folder on the right of the WinRAR window to select it.
- You can also click the + to the left of the folder to expand it and view the subfolders.

Step 8. Click OK
This will start extracting the contents of the RAR file into your selected folder. When it is finished extracting, you will be able to access the contents of the RAR file like any other file or folder.