Method 1: Convert RAR to ZIP online in your browser
This is the method this site exists for. The conversion happens inside your browser with WebAssembly: the RAR is unpacked locally and repacked as a ZIP on your device. Nothing is uploaded, so it also works with files you would rather not send to a stranger's server.
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Open the converter and drop your file
Go to the RAR to ZIP converter on the home page and drag your .rar file onto the drop area, or click to choose it.
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Preview the contents and pick files
The tool lists the archive contents without extracting. Click text files or images to preview them, then select what you want in the ZIP (everything is selected by default).
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Press pack and save the ZIP
Click the pack button. Your browser builds the ZIP locally and saves it to your downloads folder. That is the whole process.
Encrypted archives: if the RAR is password-protected, the tool asks for the password and decrypts it locally; the password stays in the page. Encrypted split volumes are the exception and need an installed tool.
Method 2: On Windows 10/11 with 7-Zip or WinRAR
If you convert archives regularly, an installed tool is worth having. Windows itself cannot read RAR files, so you need one of these two programs. Both are long-established: 7-Zip is free and open source, WinRAR is commercial with a trial period.
With 7-Zip (free)
- Download 7-Zip from 7-zip.org and install it.
- Right-click your .rar file, open the 7-Zip menu, and choose Extract Files (or Extract Here).
- Select the extracted files, right-click, and under 7-Zip choose Add to archive.
- Set the archive format to zip and confirm. You get a .zip next to the folder.
With WinRAR
- Install WinRAR from rarlab.com.
- Right-click the .rar file and choose Extract Files.
- Select the extracted files, right-click, and choose Add to archive.
- In the archive format section choose RAR's ZIP option and confirm.
Both tools convert through extraction and repacking: the RAR is unpacked to disk first, then the files are compressed into a ZIP. The end result is the same as the browser method.
Method 3: On Mac
macOS cannot open RAR files either, but the free Unarchiver app handles extraction well, and the Finder can then compress the files into a ZIP with no extra software.
- Install The Unarchiver from the Mac App Store (free) and let it handle .rar files.
- Double-click your .rar file. The Unarchiver extracts it to a folder.
- Select the extracted folder or files, right-click, and choose Compress. macOS creates archive.zip.
No-install alternative on Mac: this site's converter works in Safari. Drop the RAR on the home page and the ZIP is created locally on your Mac.
Which method should you choose?
| Situation | Best method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One-off file, privacy matters | Browser (Method 1) | The file never leaves your device and nothing is installed. |
| You convert archives weekly | 7-Zip or WinRAR (Method 2) | Installed tools are faster for repeat use and handle more formats. |
| You are on a Mac without admin rights | Browser (Method 1) | No installation required; runs in Safari. |
| The archive is split into volumes (.part1.rar …) | Installed tools (Method 2) | Supported here: drop all volumes together and they are joined before conversion. Desktop tools still handle split archives with fewer clicks. |
| Very large archive, older computer | 7-Zip (Method 2) | Desktop tools manage memory better than a browser tab on constrained machines. |
Troubleshooting
The tool asks for a password
Cause. The archive is encrypted. You need the password from whoever created the file.
Fix. Enter it in the prompt; the password never leaves your browser and the archive is decrypted locally. If the password is not accepted, double-check it with whoever created the file.
Missing part 3 (or similar)
Cause. The archive is split into volumes and one of them is missing or renamed.
Fix. Keep all volumes in one folder with their original names and drop them all at once. When a volume is truly missing or renamed, the data that spanned it cannot be recovered, so ask the sender for a fresh copy.
The archive cannot be read at all
Cause. The download was interrupted or the file is corrupted. RAR archives without a recovery record cannot be repaired from a partial download.
Fix. Download the file again from the source. If it has a recovery record, WinRAR can attempt a repair.
Out of memory
Cause. The archive is large and the browser ran out of available memory.
Fix. Close other tabs and retry, convert fewer files per pass, or use a desktop tool for very large archives.
FAQ
Can I convert RAR to ZIP without installing software?
Yes. Use the browser-based converter on this site's home page: drop the file, choose the files, download the ZIP. Nothing is installed and nothing is uploaded.
Does converting RAR to ZIP lose quality?
No. Extraction and repacking are lossless at the file level: the files inside the ZIP are byte-identical to the files inside the RAR. Only the container changes.
Why is the resulting ZIP a different size than the RAR?
RAR and ZIP use different compression algorithms. For already-compressed data (videos, photos) both store it nearly as-is and sizes stay close. For text and databases, sizes can differ noticeably in either direction.
Is it safe to convert a RAR file I downloaded?
Converting means unpacking, not executing: no file inside the archive runs by itself. Still, check the source, preview the contents before extracting, and scan with antivirus if in doubt.
Can I convert ZIP back to RAR?
Not with this site. Creating RAR archives requires RARLAB's licensed software. Converting the other direction, RAR to ZIP, is unrestricted and is exactly what this tool does.