How to open RAR files on Android phones

RAR files are one of many file types you will encounter when downloading large files over the Internet. RAR files are an archive format that can contain many separate files, but unlike PDF, audio and video files, you cannot directly open RAR files on Android.

You need an application that can open the archive for you to view its contents. The following article will show you how to open RAR files on Android phones.

How to open RAR files on Android

To open RAR files, you need a file management application that supports this format. This tutorial has chosen Solid Explorer File Manager, one of the best Android file managers available today.

To open RAR files on Android:

1. Download and install Solid Explorer File Manager.

2. Open the app and agree to the user agreement.

3. Click Grant then turn on Allow access to manage all files to give the application access to your files.

How to open RAR files on Android phones Picture 1

4. Return to the application, navigate to your RAR file and tap on it. Solid Explorer will open the file, giving you a preview of the content inside. You can even click on any file in the archive to open it.

5. To extract files from the RAR archive, tap the three-dot menu at the top right and select Extract .

6. Then, select the location where the stored content is stored, then press Select from the pop-up window. The app will extract the RAR archive and when done, you will see the bottom right button turn green.

How to open RAR files on Android phones Picture 2

Navigate to the location you chose to save the archive's contents to view the files. Due to comprehensive archive support, you can also open ZIP files on Android using Solid Explorer. It also supports 7ZIP and TAR archive formats.

Alternative file management applications to open RAR files on Android

In addition to Solid Explorer File Manager, you can get similar results using alternative applications. X-plore File Manager is another reliable option that allows you to view the archive before extracting its contents. This is very important because you can get infected with a virus when opening a RAR file.

Total Commander is another option that supports archive previews; therefore, you can thoroughly review the contents of the archive before unpacking.

1.  (Available for free, in-app purchases)
2. (Free of charge)

David Pac

Update 30 October 2023