WinRARfor Windows

If you own a Windows PC, there’s a strong chance it came with WinRAR already installed. This software is a popular, powerful file compression tool available as 32-bit and 64-bit versions for Windows operating systems. The 64-bit version is better suited to newer versions of Windows, such as Windows 10.

How do you use WinRAR 64-bit?

If you need to install it, you’ll have to run the winrar.exe file and follow the on-screen instructions. Once it’s installed, or if it’s already on your PC, you’ll find it offers multiple options once you right-click on a compatible file. These options are accompanied by WinRAR’s red, blue, and green logo of three books bound together with a belt.

There are plenty of decent alternatives to WinRAR around, such as 7-Zip, PeaZip, and WinZip. Some of these handle slightly different file types, but for most people, WinRAR is sufficient for most needs.

Free vs. paid

WinRAR technically comes with a 40-day free trial period, but in reality, you can use it for free indefinitely. So why pay for it? If you’re using WinRAR 64-bit for personal use, there’s no real need. If you have a business, however, the full version includes a few extra features that’ll likely come in handy such as, multi-volume compression and self-extracting files.

File types and versions

WinRAR 64-bit handles RAR, CAB, ZIP, ARJ, TAR, LZH, GZip, ISO, UUE, Z, BZIP2, and 7-Zip file formats. Updates for WinRAR are frequent too, with version 6 being the most recent one. Older versions may include security vulnerabilities, especially on older operating systems, so always make sure to have the latest version installed. 

Extra features

WinRAR is available in over 100 languages, from Arabic to English and Vietnamese. It also automatically encrypts any files you compress with 256-bit password protection so you can transfer sensitive files with the peace of mind.

Our take

WinRAR 64-bit compression helps save space on your PC and lets you securely email zip files. It’s a tiny 3MB download that helps make a big difference for your workflow and digital storage needs.

Should you download it?

Yes. There’s really no reason not to, as it’s free and handles all compression file types.