RAR is a proprietary archive format developed by RARLab, the same company behind WinRAR on Windows. Unlike ZIP, Android has absolutely no native support for opening RAR files — tapping a RAR file on a stock Android device will produce a "Cannot open file" error or offer to search for an app. AnExplorer includes native RAR and RAR5 extraction built directly into its archive engine, so you can tap a .rar file and it opens like a folder without installing any additional software.
Quick Answer
In AnExplorer, tap any .rar file — it opens immediately and shows all contents in a folder-like view. To extract everything: long-press the file → Extract → choose a destination folder → confirm. Done.
Step-by-Step: Open a RAR File
- Open AnExplorer on your Android phone or tablet
- Navigate to the RAR file (usually found in Internal Storage → Download/)
- Tap the
.rarfile — it opens in AnExplorer's archive viewer - You can see all files and folders inside the archive listed with their sizes and dates
- Tap any file inside the archive to preview it directly — images, text files, and PDFs render immediately without full extraction
- To extract a single file: long-press it inside the archive → Extract here or Extract to...
Extract All Files from a RAR Archive
When you want to unpack the entire archive to a specific location:
- In AnExplorer's file list (not inside the archive), long-press the
.rarfile - Tap Extract from the context menu
- Choose the destination folder — you can create a new folder for the extracted contents
- Tap OK — all contents are extracted to that location
- Navigate to the destination folder to access your files
Extraction speed depends on the archive size and compression method. A 500 MB RAR file typically extracts in 15–45 seconds on a modern phone.
Understanding RAR5 (Modern RAR Format)
RAR5 is the newer version of the RAR format introduced in WinRAR 5.0. Files still use the .rar extension but internally use an updated container format with improved compression algorithms, better error recovery, and stronger encryption. You cannot tell the difference by looking at the file name alone.
AnExplorer handles both RAR4 (legacy) and RAR5 (modern) formats automatically. There is no setting to toggle or extra step required — the archive engine detects the format version internally and applies the correct decompression method.
Key differences in RAR5:
- Uses AES-256 encryption (upgraded from AES-128 in RAR4)
- Better compression for large files
- Supports recovery records for automatic error correction
- File names can be up to 2048 characters (versus 260 in RAR4)
Password-Protected RAR Files
Many RAR files downloaded from the internet are password-protected. AnExplorer handles both types of encryption:
Content encryption only (file list is visible):
- Tap the
.rarfile — you can see the file listing - When you attempt to extract or preview a file, AnExplorer prompts for the password
- Enter the password → tap OK → files extract normally
Full encryption (file list is hidden):
- Tap the
.rarfile — AnExplorer immediately prompts for a password - Until you enter the correct password, the archive appears empty
- Enter the password → the full file listing appears and you can extract normally
Where to find the password:
- Check the website where you downloaded the file (often in the description or comments)
- Check the email that contained the download link
- Check if the sender included it in a separate message
- Passwords are case-sensitive — check capitalization carefully
Multi-Part RAR Archives
Large files are often split into multiple RAR volumes for easier downloading and sharing. You will see files named in one of these patterns:
archive.part1.rar,archive.part2.rar,archive.part3.rar(modern naming)archive.rar,archive.r00,archive.r01,archive.r02(legacy naming)
To extract a multi-part archive:
- Download all parts into the same folder — every single one must be present
- In AnExplorer, tap the first part (
archive.part1.rarorarchive.rar) - AnExplorer automatically detects and reads all subsequent parts, treating the multi-volume set as one unified archive
- Extract as normal — the complete file reconstructs from all parts in one operation
If any part is missing or corrupted, extraction will fail with a "missing volume" or "CRC error" message. Re-download the specific missing part and try again.
RAR vs ZIP — When to Use Each
| Feature | RAR | ZIP |
|---|---|---|
| Compression ratio | Higher (better) | Standard |
| Error recovery | Built-in recovery records | None |
| Multi-volume splitting | Native, seamless | Needs separate tool |
| Encryption | AES-256 (can encrypt headers) | AES-256 or weak ZipCrypto |
| File name encryption | Supported | Only with AES-256 mode |
| Creation license | Proprietary (requires WinRAR) | Open standard |
| Native Android support | None (needs app like AnExplorer) | Limited native support |
| Maximum file size | Unlimited | 4 GB per file (traditional ZIP) |
RAR is preferred when strong compression and file integrity matter. ZIP is preferred when maximum compatibility is needed since every operating system can open ZIP files natively.
Creating RAR Archives on Android
AnExplorer supports creating archives in ZIP and 7z formats. RAR creation requires a WinRAR license (it is a proprietary format), so AnExplorer cannot create RAR files — but it can create 7z archives which offer similar or better compression. If you need to send someone a compressed file, use ZIP for compatibility or 7z for maximum compression.
Common Error Messages and Fixes
| Error | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "File is corrupt" | Incomplete or damaged download | Re-download the file completely |
| "Missing volume" | Not all parts of a split archive are present | Download all .partX.rar files to the same folder |
| "Wrong password" | Incorrect password entered | Double-check password — it is case-sensitive |
| Empty archive listing | Header encryption enabled | Enter password to reveal the file list |
| "Unknown format" | File is not actually RAR despite extension | Use AnExplorer's file info to check real format |
| "CRC failed" | Data corruption in one part | Re-download the corrupted volume |
| "Not enough space" | Insufficient storage for extraction | Free space before extracting — check extracted size |
Difference Between .rar and .cbr Files
.cbr files are comic book archives — they are actually standard RAR files that have been renamed with a .cbr extension so that comic book reader apps recognize them. AnExplorer can open .cbr files as archives, letting you browse and extract individual comic pages (usually JPG or PNG images). If you prefer to read them as a comic, install a dedicated reader like Perfect Viewer or Tachiyomi and open the .cbr from AnExplorer using "Open with."
Difference Between .rar and .zip.001 Files
Files with .zip.001, .zip.002 extensions are split ZIP archives, not RAR files. AnExplorer handles these too — tap the .zip.001 file and it reconstructs the full ZIP from all parts. Do not confuse these with RAR multi-part archives which use .part1.rar naming.
Tips for Working with RAR Files on Android
- Check file size after download: Compare the downloaded file size with what the source reports. A size mismatch indicates an incomplete download that will fail to extract.
- Keep all parts together: If you are downloading a multi-part archive, wait until all parts finish downloading before attempting extraction.
- Free sufficient storage: RAR files with high compression can expand to 3–5 times their compressed size. Ensure you have enough free space before extracting.
- Use AnExplorer's preview: You can preview individual files inside a RAR archive without extracting the entire thing — useful for checking contents before committing to a full extraction.
Related Guides
- Open ZIP Files on Android — extract ZIP archives
- Open 7Z Files on Android — extract 7-Zip archives
- Find Downloaded Files — locate your RAR download
- RAR File Format Guide — technical reference