RAR 7.23 for Android

RAR 7.23 is the Android archive app from Rar Lab. It lets you open compressed files you receive on your phone and pack files into archives before sending them, and the app is free to download.

What does RAR for Android do?

Archives bundle many files into one and usually make them smaller. They are common when someone sends a set of documents, photos or project files at once, and phones do not always open them without help. RAR adds that help: you tap an archive, see what is inside and extract all or part of it to a folder. You can also go the other way and pack a folder into a single archive, which is handy for sending many files by email or messenger. For most people the app is a quiet utility: installed once, opened only when an archive appears, and otherwise out of the way. It is also a sensible place to check an archive's contents before extracting it, which helps you spot suspicious files early.

How do I open an archive?

1. Install RAR from a trusted app store, checking that the developer is Rar Lab.
2. Open the app and navigate to the folder where the archive was saved, usually Downloads.
3. Tap the archive to see its contents.
4. Select the files you need and extract them to a folder you will find again.
5. Delete the archive afterwards if you no longer need it, to save space.

How do I create an archive?

Select the files or folder in the app, choose to add them to an archive, pick a name and confirm. If the archive contains personal documents, protect it with a strong password and send the password through a different channel than the file itself.

Key facts

Is it safe to open archives?

The app is safe; the danger is in what archives contain. Malware is often sent inside compressed files because they hide the real file type until you extract them. Only open archives from people you know, be suspicious of files ending in .apk inside archives from strangers, and never install an app just because an archive told you to. Keep Google Play Protect enabled.

What permissions does it need?

An archive app needs access to your files to do its job. Grant storage access, but nothing unrelated such as contacts or location.

What are the pros and cons?

• Pro: opens and creates archives in one app.
• Pro: small and simple.
• Pro: free.
• Con: few reasons to open it between archives.
• Con: file management on a phone screen can be fiddly.

What are the alternatives?

Our listings include ZArchiver, another archive manager for Android. For sending large files instead of packing them, MEGA, MediaFire and TeraBox offer cloud storage.