TL;DR: WinRAR 7.20 — free download for Windows 64-bit, 32-bit, Mac and Linux. All links go directly to official win-rar.com servers. 40-day free trial, no registration.

WinRAR 7.20 — Download Free

Compress, Encrypt, Package and Backup with only one utility

With over 500 million users worldwide, WinRAR is the world's most popular compression tool!

There is no better way to compress files for efficient and secure file transfer. Providing fast email transmission and well-organized data storage options, WinRAR also offers solutions for users working in all industries and sectors.

WinRAR is a powerful archiver extractor tool, and can open all popular file formats.

RAR and WinRAR are Windows 11™ and Windows 10™ compatible; available in over 40 languages; compatible with several operating systems (OS), and it is the only compression software that can work with Unicode. Read more...

Buy WinRAR

Download WinRAR

GraphicsFamily best software award WinRAR

win-rar-app.com is an independent portal. Not affiliated with WinRAR® or win.rar GmbH. All downloads link to official win-rar.com servers.

WinRAR by the Numbers

7.20Latest Version (2025)

500M+Users Worldwide

40+Languages Supported

14+Archive Formats Supported

30+Years of Development

AES-256Military-Grade Encryption

Free40-Day Trial — No Card

~3.5 MBInstaller Size (Windows 64-bit)

WinRAR Download — All Platforms & Versions

All download links go directly to the official win-rar.com file servers. win-rar-app.com does not host, modify, or repackage any files. Choose your platform below:

Platform	Architecture	Version	File Name	Size	Download
Windows 11 / 10	64-bit (x64)	7.20	winrar-x64-720.exe	~3.5 MB	⬇ Download
Windows 11 / 10 / 8	32-bit (x86)	7.20	wrar720.exe	~3.2 MB	⬇ Download
macOS	Universal	7.0	rarosx-7.0.0.tar.gz	~600 KB	⬇ Download
Linux	64-bit (x64)	7.0	rarlinux-x64-700.tar.gz	~580 KB	⬇ Download

Not sure which version? If your PC runs Windows 10 or 11 and was bought in the last 10 years, choose Windows 64-bit. If you see "32-bit operating system" in Windows Settings → System → About, choose 32-bit.

What Is WinRAR? A Complete Overview

WinRAR is a file archiver and data compression utility developed by win.rar GmbH, a German software company. First released by Eugene Roshal in 1993 — hence the name RAR (Roshal ARchive) — it has been continuously developed and refined for over 30 years, making it one of the longest-lived utilities in computing history.

At its core, WinRAR compresses one or more files into a single archive container, reducing their total size by 30–70% depending on file type. Text documents, databases, and HTML compress extremely well. Videos, photos, and already-compressed files compress minimally. The resulting archive can be sent by email, uploaded faster to cloud storage, or stored more efficiently on disk.

Beyond basic compression, WinRAR offers features that set it apart from simpler tools: AES-256 encryption for privacy, archive splitting for large files, recovery records to repair damaged archives, and a polished graphical interface that hasn't confused users in three decades of operation.

WinRAR 7.20 introduced improvements to the RAR5 compression engine, better handling of very large archives (multi-terabyte), improved Windows 11 shell integration, and expanded Unicode support for filenames in non-Latin scripts.

WinRAR 7.20 main interface showing archive contents and file management panel

WinRAR 7.20 main window

Why Millions Choose WinRAR — Key Features Explained

🗜️

RAR5 Superior Compression

WinRAR's proprietary RAR5 format typically achieves 15–30% better compression than standard ZIP on the same data. For large software packages, databases, or document collections, this means significantly smaller files, faster uploads, and lower storage costs. RAR5 uses a modern LZSS algorithm tuned for different data patterns.

🔐

AES-256 Military-Grade Encryption

WinRAR encrypts archives with 256-bit AES, the same standard used by financial institutions and government agencies worldwide. You can set a password on any archive and optionally encrypt the file list itself — so an attacker cannot even see which files are inside without the correct password. Brute-forcing a strong AES-256 password is computationally infeasible.

📂

Open 14+ Archive Formats

WinRAR handles RAR (all versions), ZIP, 7Z, CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR, GZ, ACE, UUE, BZ2, JAR, ISO, and Z. This makes it a universal archive tool — you almost never need a second utility. ISO files (disk images) can be browsed like folders. TAR.GZ files from Linux systems open seamlessly. ZIP files from any source extract flawlessly.

🔧

Archive Repair & Recovery Records

WinRAR can add "recovery records" to RAR archives — small blocks of redundancy data that allow the archive to be repaired if a portion is corrupted (e.g., from a failing hard drive or incomplete download). Even without recovery records, the built-in repair function can often salvage partially damaged archives and extract as many files as possible.

✂️

Multi-Volume Split Archives

Split large archives into smaller volumes of any size — for example, 700 MB volumes to fit on CDs, 4 GB volumes for FAT32 USB drives, or any custom size for cloud uploads. The recipient only needs WinRAR to reassemble them. Split archives are also useful for email providers that restrict attachment sizes to 10–25 MB.

⌨️

Full Command-Line Interface

WinRAR ships with rar.exe and unrar.exe — fully featured CLI tools for scripted operations. Automate nightly backups, integrate archiving into build pipelines, batch-compress thousands of files, or schedule archive integrity checks with Task Scheduler. Complete documentation with all switches and examples is included in the install package.

🌍

Unicode & International Filenames

WinRAR is the only major compression tool with complete Unicode support. Filenames in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Russian, Hebrew, or any other script are handled correctly — no garbled characters, no renamed files. This is critical for international teams, multilingual document collections, and developers working with global codebases.

🖱️

Windows Shell Integration

After installation, WinRAR adds entries to the Windows right-click context menu: "Add to archive", "Add to [filename].rar", "Extract here", and "Extract to [folder]". This lets you compress or extract without ever opening the WinRAR window. Drag-and-drop is also fully supported within the WinRAR file manager.

🔄

SFX Self-Extracting Archives

Create self-extracting (SFX) archives that recipients can run without having WinRAR installed. The archive contains a small extractor stub — when run, it extracts files automatically. Ideal for software distribution, IT deployment packages, and sharing with non-technical users who shouldn't need to install anything to access your files.

WinRAR 7.20 — Interface Screenshots

WinRAR 7.20 file manager showing RAR archive contents with file sizes and compression ratios

WinRAR archive creation dialog showing compression level, format, and password settings

WinRAR RAR5 archive icon as displayed in Windows 11 Explorer

WinRAR CNET 5-star download rating — consistently top-rated

WinRAR Softpedia award — best archiving software

How to Download and Install WinRAR — Step by Step

Choose Your Version

Select Windows 64-bit for any modern PC running Windows 10 or 11. Use 32-bit only if your system shows "32-bit OS" in Settings → System → About. Mac and Linux versions are also available above.

Download the Installer

Click the Download button. Your browser will download a small installer file (~3.5 MB) directly from win-rar.com servers. No account or registration is required.

Run the Installer

Double-click the downloaded .exe file. Click Yes when Windows asks for administrator permission. Choose your installation folder (the default C:\Program Files\WinRAR works for most users) and click Install.

Configure Shell Integration

A configuration window appears. Check "Add WinRAR to Desktop" and "Integrate WinRAR into shell". Select which file types (RAR, ZIP, 7Z, etc.) WinRAR should open by default. Click OK to finish.

Enterprise / Silent Installation: Run winrar-x64-720.exe /S from the command line for silent installation with no GUI. Pre-place a winrar.ini file in the same directory to customise settings. Deploy rarreg.key to C:\Program Files\WinRAR\ on each machine to activate the license automatically.

What's New in WinRAR 7.20

Compression Improvements

WinRAR 7.20 features a refined RAR5 compression engine that achieves better ratios on structured data such as spreadsheets, databases, and source code. For large archive operations on multi-core processors, compression throughput has been improved through better thread utilisation.

Windows 11 Integration

WinRAR 7.20 is fully adapted for the Windows 11 context menu system, which differs from Windows 10. The "Add to archive" and extraction options appear correctly in the new Windows 11 right-click menu without requiring the legacy context menu.

Enhanced Unicode Support

Filenames containing emoji, rare Unicode characters, and combined scripts (e.g. Latin + CJK in the same filename) are now handled more robustly across all supported platforms.

Security Updates

WinRAR 7.20 includes several security hardening updates. Parsing of malformed archive headers has been made more robust to prevent potential issues with crafted archive files. All cryptographic operations use the system-native AES implementation where available for improved performance and security.

Large Archive Handling

Handling of very large archives (hundreds of gigabytes, millions of files) has been optimised. The file list loads faster, memory usage during extraction is more efficient, and progress reporting is more accurate for long operations.

Bug Fixes

WinRAR 7.20 resolves multiple reported issues including rare crashes during extraction of certain archive types, display glitches on high-DPI monitors, and edge cases in the archive integrity check function.

WinRAR System Requirements

Windows (Recommended)

Requirement	Minimum	Recommended
Operating System	Windows 7 SP1	Windows 10 / 11
Architecture	32-bit (x86)	64-bit (x64)
RAM	128 MB	512 MB+
Disk Space	5 MB	10 MB
Display	800×600	1280×720 or higher

macOS & Linux

Platform	Requirement
macOS	macOS 10.12 Sierra or later
Linux (x64)	Any glibc 2.17+ distribution
Linux (ARM)	Available in separate package
Interface	Command line (GUI via Wine)
Dependencies	None (statically linked)

WinRAR vs WinZip vs 7-Zip vs Windows Built-in — Full Comparison

Feature	WinRAR 7.20	WinZip 28	7-Zip 24	Windows Built-in
Create RAR5 archives	✔	✗	✗	✗
Create ZIP archives	✔	✔	✔	✔
Create 7Z archives	✗	✔	✔	✗
Open ZIP / 7Z / ISO	✔	✔	✔	ZIP only
Open RAR archives	✔	✔	✔	✗
AES-256 encryption	✔	✔	✔	✗
Encrypt filename list	✔	✗	✔ (7Z)	✗
Archive repair function	✔	✗	✗	✗
Recovery records	✔	✗	✗	✗
Split multi-volume	✔	✔	✔	✗
Self-extracting (SFX)	✔	✔	✔	✗
Full Unicode support	✔	Partial	✔	Partial
Command-line interface	✔	✔	✔	✗
Shell context menu	✔	✔	✔	Limited
Windows 11 compatible	✔	✔	✔	✔
Price	Free trial / ~$29	Free trial / ~$35	Free	Free
Open source	✗	✗	✔	✗

WinRAR Use Cases — Who Uses It and How

WinRAR for IT professionals and enterprise

IT & System Administrators

Automate server backups, compress log files, deploy software packages silently, and schedule integrity checks via the CLI and Windows Task Scheduler.

Software Developers

Package release builds, distribute source code snapshots, create SFX installers for end users, and integrate archiving into CI/CD pipelines via rar.exe.

Creative Professionals

Compress and send large Photoshop, Premiere, or Blender project files to clients. Split huge video renders into email-friendly volumes. Encrypt client deliverables.

Home Users

Extract downloaded archives, compress photos before sharing, back up important documents, and open any archive format received from family and friends worldwide.

Businesses & Teams

Securely share sensitive documents with AES-256 encryption, reduce email attachment sizes, standardise archiving across departments with site licenses.

Gamers & Modders

Extract game mods, patches, and asset packs. Most game distribution sites use RAR or ZIP. WinRAR handles all formats seamlessly, including multi-part RAR sets.

Industry Recognition & Awards

WinRAR has been recognised by independent software review sites for over two decades. Here is a selection of awards and ratings it has received:

Frequently Asked Questions — WinRAR Download

Is WinRAR free to download?

WinRAR offers a full-featured 40-day free trial with no restrictions. After the trial period ends, you can purchase a lifetime license for around $29 USD. The download itself is always free, and all links on this page go directly to the official win-rar.com servers operated by win.rar GmbH.

What is the latest version of WinRAR?

The latest version is WinRAR 7.20, released in 2025. It brings improved RAR5 compression ratios, significantly better Windows 11 compatibility, enhanced Unicode filename support, and several security improvements. It is the most capable version of WinRAR ever released.

Is it safe to download WinRAR from win-rar-app.com?

Yes, completely safe. Every download link on win-rar-app.com points directly to the official win-rar.com file servers operated by win.rar GmbH, the original developer of WinRAR. We do not host, modify, repackage, or bundle any files. You download exactly what win.rar GmbH publishes.

Does WinRAR work on Windows 11?

Yes. WinRAR 7.20 is fully compatible with Windows 11 (both 32-bit and 64-bit editions) and Windows 10. It integrates natively into the Windows 11 shell, appearing in the context menu when you right-click files or folders.

What is the difference between WinRAR and 7-Zip?

The main differences are: WinRAR can CREATE RAR5 archives (7-Zip cannot), WinRAR has a built-in archive repair function (7-Zip does not), WinRAR supports recovery records for damaged archives, and WinRAR has a polished GUI with decades of refinement. 7-Zip is free and open-source. Both open ZIP and most common formats.

What file formats can WinRAR open?

WinRAR creates RAR and ZIP archives, and can open 14+ formats including RAR, ZIP, 7Z, CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR, GZ, ACE, UUE, BZ2, JAR, ISO, and Z. This makes it the most versatile archiver available — you rarely need any other tool.

How do I install WinRAR on Windows?

Download the installer (winrar-x64-720.exe for 64-bit), double-click it, accept administrator permissions, choose your installation path (default is C:\Program Files\WinRAR), select which file types to associate, and click OK. WinRAR integrates into the Windows right-click menu automatically. The whole process takes under a minute.

Can WinRAR encrypt files?

Yes. WinRAR uses industry-standard AES-256 encryption — the same algorithm used by banks and governments. You can password-protect any archive, and optionally encrypt the filename list inside so that even the file names are hidden from unauthorised users without the password.

How many languages does WinRAR support?

WinRAR is available in over 40 languages, making it one of the most widely localised utilities ever created. It is also the only compression software with complete Unicode support, meaning filenames in any language — including Chinese, Arabic, Russian, or Japanese — are handled flawlessly.

Is there a 64-bit version of WinRAR?

Yes. WinRAR is available as a native 64-bit binary (winrar-x64-720.exe) optimised for modern processors. The 64-bit version handles very large files (multi-GB archives) more efficiently, uses memory more effectively, and is faster on 64-bit Windows systems. It is the recommended download for any PC bought in the last decade.

Can I use WinRAR from the command line?

Yes. WinRAR includes a full-featured command-line interface (CLI) called rar.exe. You can automate archiving tasks in batch scripts, PowerShell, or Task Scheduler. Common operations include: rar a archive.rar files (add), rar x archive.rar (extract), and rar t archive.rar (test integrity). Full documentation is included with the installer.

What is the difference between RAR and RAR5?

RAR5 is the newer format introduced in WinRAR 5.0 (2013). Compared to the legacy RAR4 format, RAR5 offers better compression ratios (especially on large, similar files), stronger encryption, improved recovery record technology, and better cross-platform compatibility. WinRAR 7.20 creates RAR5 archives by default. RAR4 archives can still be created for compatibility with older software.

WinRAR Installation Guide — Free Download for Windows 10 & 11

Looking to download WinRAR free? You're in the right place. WinRAR is the world's leading file extractor software, and this page links directly to the download WinRAR official website — win-rar.com — so you always get the genuine, unmodified installer.

The WinRAR 64 bit free download (winrar-x64-720.exe) is the right choice for any modern PC. Follow this WinRAR installation guide to get started: click Download, run the .exe, grant administrator permission, and click Install. That's it — the complete how to install WinRAR step by step process takes under two minutes.

Both WinRAR download for Windows 10 and WinRAR for Windows 11 installation use the same installer. After setup, WinRAR appears in your right-click menu. To understand how to use WinRAR after installation: right-click any file or folder → choose "Add to archive" to compress, or right-click a .rar / .zip file → "Extract here" to unpack. When you install WinRAR on Windows, it automatically associates with RAR, ZIP, and 13 other formats — no extra configuration needed.

How to Open RAR Files on Windows — Beginner Guide to Installing WinRAR

If you've never used an archive extractor for PC before, this beginner guide to installing WinRAR will get you up and running in minutes. Many files you download — game mods, software packages, document bundles — arrive as .rar files. Windows cannot open RAR files natively, so you need a dedicated tool. WinRAR is the most trusted solution, with over 500 million installs worldwide.

To download WinRAR safely from official website servers, simply use the links on this page — they point directly to win-rar.com. This is a free WinRAR download without virus or bundled software of any kind. The installer is digitally signed by win.rar GmbH, so Windows will verify its authenticity automatically before it runs.

Here is how to install WinRAR on Windows 11 step by step: download winrar-x64-720.exe → double-click → allow administrator access → click Install → click OK to enable shell integration. To open RAR files Windows style: double-click any .rar file and WinRAR opens it instantly. Right-click → Extract here to unpack. Considering a WinRAR alternative? 7-Zip is free but lacks archive repair, recovery records, and the RAR5 format — features that make WinRAR the preferred choice for professionals.

Ready to Download WinRAR 7.20?

Free 40-day trial — full features, no restrictions. No registration required. All links go to official win-rar.com servers.

⬇ Download WinRAR Free Now — Windows 64-bit

Also available: Windows 32-bit · macOS · Linux