A real RAR extractor for Mac
Open RAR4 and RAR5 files, multi-volume sets and encrypted archives. Zipx, 7z, Tar, Gzip, Bzip2 and XZ open just as easily.
100% free Mac app / v4.3.9
The Unarchiver for MacOpens Every Archive
The free RAR extractor Mac users trust. Double-click a RAR, 7z, Zip or ISO file and get a clean folder back in seconds, with readable filenames in any language.
Version 4.3.9 for macOS 10.13+ on Apple Silicon and Intel
$0Free forever, no in-app buys
40+Archive formats supported
19.7KHomebrew installs in 365 days
10.13+Minimum macOS version
Why the unarchiver Mac users keep installing
The Unarchiver is a small free app that opens RAR, Zip and 7z files plus dozens of rare formats macOS ignores. It reads garbled filenames correctly and stays out of your way after setup.
Extraction on your terms
Pick where files land, whether a new folder wraps them and what happens to the archive afterward. Set it once in Settings and forget it.
Readable names in any language
Archives made on Windows often scramble Japanese, Cyrillic or Chinese filenames on a Mac. The Unarchiver detects the encoding and shows names the way their author typed them.
Old Mac and disc formats
StuffIt, Compact Pro, DiskDoubler and PackIt files from classic Mac OS still open. ISO, BIN, MDF and NRG disc images unpack too.
Feels like part of Finder
No windows to manage. Double-click an archive, a small progress sheet appears and your folder shows up right beside the original. Dark Mode included.
Safe by design
Hardened Runtime is on and extracted files keep their quarantine flag, so Gatekeeper still checks anything you open. Only anonymous crash data leaves your Mac.
Terminal installation
Advanced users can install The Unarchiver with a single Homebrew command.
brew install --cask the-unarchiver
How to open Terminal on Mac
- Press ⌘ + Space to open Spotlight.
- Type Terminal into the search field.
- Hit Return and a Terminal window opens.
Installation via Terminal command
- Click Copy above to grab the command.
- Paste it into Terminal with ⌘ + V.
- Press Return. The Unarchiver lands in Applications.
Want the same engine on the command line? Run brew install unar for the unar and lsar tools.
No Homebrew? Install it from brew.sh, or grab The Unarchiver straight from the Mac App Store.
Download FreeHow the unarchiver works
One minute of setup. After that every archive on your Mac opens with a double-click.
01
Make it your default
Select any archive in Finder and press ⌘ + I. Under Open with choose The Unarchiver, then click Change All.
02
Double-click the archive
RAR, 7z, Zip or ISO, it makes no difference. Password-protected files ask for the password once and carry on.
03
Open your folder
Extracted files appear next to the original with correct names. Multi-part sets unpack once, even if you open every part.
Archive Utility opens Zip. The Unarchiver opens the rest.
macOS ships with Archive Utility, and it handles basic Zip and Tar files well. Anything beyond that tends to end in an "unknown format" alert.
| Format | Archive Utility | The Unarchiver |
|---|---|---|
| Zip, Tar, Gzip | Yes | Yes |
| RAR and RAR5 | No | Yes |
| 7z | No | Yes |
| StuffIt, LZH, ARJ | No | Yes |
| Filename encoding detection | No | Yes |
Ship to:FRAGILE · DATA
- Recipient
- The Unarchiver, macOS App
- Contents
- RAR · Zip · 7z · ISO · StuffIt · CAB · LZH · XZ
- Build
- v4.3.9 / 23.2 MB / Universal
- Sender
- MacPaw Way Ltd
Open with: double-clickPrice: $0.00
What people say about The Unarchiver
Designers, developers and families clearing out old drives. Same verdict every time.
I needed a RAR extractor for Mac after a client sent a 12-part archive. The Unarchiver joined every part and dropped one clean folder on my desktop. No setup, no ads, no fuss.
Hannah P.
Zip files from my office in Osaka used to open with garbled names on macOS. The Unarchiver reads the Japanese filenames correctly every time. That alone made it my default.
Kenji T.
First app I install on every new Mac. Set it as default once and every archive opens with a double-click. The unarchiver mac version runs natively on my M3 Air.
Laura M.
Opened a StuffIt file from 1998 that nothing else could touch. Old family photos, recovered in seconds. Free software rarely feels this dependable.
Omar S.
Handles RAR, 7z and ISO without complaint. I would like a preview window before extracting, but for a free unarchiver it does the job better than anything I have paid for.
Grace W.
I install it on every lab machine with brew install --cask the-unarchiver. One command, zero support tickets about archives since.
Daniel R.
Password-protected RAR from a vendor opened after one prompt. The extracted folder sits right next to the archive, exactly where I expect it.
Priya N.
Game mods always come as 7z or RAR. Unarchiver mac setup took me thirty seconds and I have not thought about file formats since.
Lucas B.
My dad mailed me a CD image of old tax records. The Unarchiver opened the ISO directly so I never had to mount anything. Small app, big help.
Sofia L.
The Unarchiver FAQ
Straight answers about the free unarchiver for Mac.
Is The Unarchiver completely free?
Yes. The Unarchiver is free with no in-app purchases, no subscription and no locked features. MacPaw has kept it free since acquiring the app in 2017.
Can The Unarchiver open RAR files on Mac?
Yes. The Unarchiver is a full RAR extractor for Mac. It opens RAR4 and RAR5 archives, multi-volume sets and password-protected files. It also opens .exe self-extracting RAR archives.
What macOS version does The Unarchiver require?
The Mac App Store version of The Unarchiver 4.3.9 requires macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later. The Homebrew cask lists macOS 10.15 or later. It has run natively on Apple Silicon since version 4.3.0 and still supports Intel Macs.
How do I make The Unarchiver the default app for archives?
Select any archive in Finder and press Command+I to open Get Info. Under Open with, choose The Unarchiver and click Change All. Every file of that type will now open with The Unarchiver on a double-click.
How do I install The Unarchiver via Terminal?
With Homebrew installed, run brew install --cask the-unarchiver. The app lands in your Applications folder. For the command-line extractor built on the same engine, run brew install unar.
Is The Unarchiver safe to use?
Yes. The Unarchiver ships through the Mac App Store with Hardened Runtime enabled. Version 4.3.6 fixed CVE-2023-46270 so extracted files keep their macOS quarantine flag and Gatekeeper still checks them. Only crash diagnostics are collected and they are not linked to your identity.
Can The Unarchiver create Zip or RAR archives?
No. The Unarchiver only extracts. To create a Zip on Mac, right-click files in Finder and choose Compress. The Unarchiver then handles everything you receive.
Is The Unarchiver still maintained?
Yes. Dag Ågren created The Unarchiver in 2007 and MacPaw took over development in 2017. The latest release, version 4.3.9, shipped on March 19, 2025 with bug and crash fixes.
Open your next archive in seconds
Get The Unarchiver free and stop seeing "unknown format" alerts on your Mac.