RAR downloads need an app that understands the archive. The Unarchiver is an extraction tool for Mac, and can be used as the default for ordinary .rar files. Selecting it does not make an incomplete archive usable.
Method 1: Use Finder
- In Finder, select a sample file such as download.rar.
- Press Command–I, or choose File → Get Info.
- Expand Open with and choose The Unarchiver. If it is missing, choose Other and locate the installed app.
- Click Change All and confirm the macOS prompt.
- Double-click another file of the same type to check the new default.
Method 2: Manage associations with Pahkui
Pahkui lets you browse by app or by format. When setting up an editor for several file types, you can inspect the current defaults and review pending changes in one window. Requires macOS 14 or later.
- Open Pahkui, switch to Format, and search for the extension you need from .rar.
- Select The Unarchiver. Use Choose another app if it is not listed.
- Review the pending association, click Apply changes, and confirm the new app in the macOS dialog.
The formats in this guide can be configured with Pahkui Free. The manual Finder method does not require a purchase. See pricing
If the default app does not change
- For multi-part RAR downloads, keep every part together and start with the appropriate first volume.
- An incorrect password or checksum error will not be fixed by choosing the same app again.
- If The Unarchiver is missing, confirm it is installed and can open the sample directly, then locate it with Other. If an extension is absent from the catalog, add the format in Pahkui. Changing an association does not add format support to the target app.
Common questions
Can this make The Unarchiver create RAR files?
No. A default opener only controls opening and extraction; archive creation is a separate capability.
How do I restore the previous app for .rar?
Choose the previous app again in Finder or Pahkui and confirm the change. This updates the type association without deleting files. Use the Open With context menu for a one-time exception.