File compression and extraction tool
WinRAR is a software created by RARLAB for Windows that is used to extract and compress files. The tool unzips folders by extracting files and uses compression to zip multiple files into one folder. Users have the options to download WinRAR with a free trial or purchase the software; WinRAR requires a license after the trial period ends.
Is WinRAR for free?
If the free trial option is chosen, then there are restrictions to the application’s features – which are only available on the licensed version: ‘Add authenticity information’, ‘Show protocol file’, and ‘Delete protocol file’. When the free trial ends, there are windows that regularly pop-up to remind users to purchase a WinRAR license.
WinRAR is available in two versions based on computers’ operating systems: the 32-bit and the 64-bit. The application can be downloaded in a multitude of languages: Chinese, English, Catalan, Indonesian, Portuguese, Serbian, Slovenian, etc. WinRAR supports and formats RAR, ZIP, ACE, ARJ, BZ2, CAB, GZIP, ISO, JAR, LZH, TAR, UUE, XZ, Z, 001 and 7-ZIP files.
Upon installing the tool, users are given interface options: adding the WinRAR icon to the desktop screen or ‘Start Menu’ for easy accessibility, and creating a WinRAR program group. The ‘Shell integration’ options are for accessing WinRAR’s features on context menus: ‘Add’, ‘Extract’, ‘Wizard’, etc.
What is the use of WinRAR?
When multiple files are downloaded at once, they are stored in zipped folders. With WinRAR, the zipped folders are stored within an icon that appears as the company’s logo; you can unzip these folders by extracting files. One of the ways to extract files from zipped folders is to locate the folder and right click on the icon for the ‘Extract’ pop-up options.
By clicking on ‘Extract files…’ within the pop-up options, consumers are prompted to choose a folder to extract the files into within their devices’ directories. Within the pop-up, the ‘Extract here’ option will extract the files into the same window. Conveniently, WinRAR offers a ‘Yes to all’ button, allowing users to extract all the files at once into a different location.
After double-clicking on WinRAR’s shortcut icon, people can navigate the command line options: ‘Add’, ‘Extract to’, ‘Test’, ‘View’, ‘Delete’, ‘Find’, ‘Wizard’, ‘Info’, and repair options. Similar to right clicking on the folders, users can extract, and compress, files from within the WinRAR shortcut.
Archiver abilities
By clicking the ‘Add’ icon, the WinRAR community can create, and add files to, and archive; the archive that the files go into can be established by creating a name under ‘Archive name’. Above and to the right of the option to change the name is the browser settings, which offers the option to save the archive in any location on the device.
There is a multitude of detailed information within the ‘Add’ button that supports the best possible experience for users: the tabs ‘General’, ‘Advanced’, ‘Options’, ‘Files’, ‘Backups’, ‘Time’, and ‘Comment’. Within the ‘General’ tab in the ‘Add’ button, there is an option to choose to save the archive as either ‘RAR’ or ‘ZIP’. Whichever option is chosen, the file will begin to process after clicking ‘OK’.
Users can set a password for compressed files by choosing the ‘Set Password…’ button. After the password has been selected, for any changes to be made to the archived file, the correct password will need to be entered.
Compressing files into folders
Within the ‘Add’ button, people can choose their preferred compression method – which creates the size of the archived files: ‘Fastest’, ‘Fast’, ‘Normal’, ‘Good’, and ‘Best’. To promptly compress files, find the icons within the desktop screen and highlight them; right click on the highlighted section, and begin the ‘Add to archive’ process, being sure to choose the preferable compression ratio.
WinRAR can create multivolume archives: archives that have several files within them. Files can be split into parts by selecting the amount for the volume and the format of the files: ‘B’, ‘KB’, ‘MB’, and ‘GB’.
Navigation and corruption solutions
Users can succinctly navigate the extraction and compression software by clicking on the ‘Wizard’ button within the command line. With direct access and step-by-step instructions to unpacking, creating, and adding files to archives, the ‘Wizard’ option is especially helpful for novice users.
When downloading files from websites, people can receive corrupted files; WinRAR will inform the community if a file is damaged or corrupted. Upon receiving a corrupted file, users can apply the repair options and test to see if the action produces restorative results for the file.
Is WinRAR safe?
WinRAR requires access to devices’ cookie info; if desired, then within a web-browser, users can hide cookie information from WinRAR – making the application safe. WinRAR is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux OS. People can download the WinRAR application on Android devices; if the Android option is chosen, then consumers can enjoy the app for free.
Alternative applications
Another platform for compressing and extracting files is 7-Zip. The two tools’ interfaces are almost identical, except WinRAR has the ‘Wizard’ and repair options that can be helpful to novices and fix corrupted files. WinRAR does have helpful features, however, the compression time on 7-Zip is quicker.
Both of the applications – along with the compression and extraction tools PeaZip, WinZip, and UnRAR – can format RAR and ZIP files. While WinRAR has a free test trial that prompts people to buy after the period ends, 7-ZIP is a completely free tool; 7-Zip’s quicker compression time and free platform can make the application more attractive than WinRAR to people.
Extract and compress files
Consumers can conveniently access the application’s abilities by opening up the shortcut icon, searching for the tool’s name within the ‘Start Menu’, or by right clicking on a folder to view the pop-up menu. If the file is not a RAR or ZIP file, then users have the ability to compress the file; if the file is a RAR or ZIP, then the option to extract files is available.
RARLAB improves the innovation and ease of WinRAR with consistent software updates. The updated versions are available with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems; additionally, the WinRAR Android application receives regular updates.
