With the newer versions of Windows 11, you no longer need to install extra apps just to open RAR files. This is because Windows has added built-in support for RAR files, making the process simple and easy. Here's how to open and extract RAR files using only File Explorer:

• First, open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon in the taskbar or pressing Windows + E on your keyboard.
• Navigate to the folder where your RAR file is saved. This is often the Downloads folder if you just downloaded it from the internet.
  

  

• Find the RAR file and double-click it. Windows will open the file and show you everything inside.
• You will now see a list of files inside the archive. To extract them, select the files you want. You can press Ctrl + A to highlight all files at once or click on individual files while holding Ctrl.
• Once your files are selected, right-click on one of them and choose Copy, or press Ctrl + C.
  

  

• Now go to the folder where you want to save these files. Open that folder in File Explorer.
• Right-click in an empty space inside the folder and select Paste, or press Ctrl + V to finish the extraction.

While Windows 11 now supports RAR files, some users may still prefer using a dedicated tool like WinRAR. For those who don’t know, WinRAR is the original software made for RAR files and gives you more features, like repairing broken archives, compressing files, and customizing how they extract.

• Go to the official WinRAR website and download the version that matches your system. Most Windows 11 users should choose the 64-bit version.
• Once the file is downloaded, open it to start the installation.
• Follow the setup steps until you reach a screen showing a list of file types. These are the file formats WinRAR can handle. It's best to leave the default options as they are unless you have a reason to change them.
• Click OK and then finish the installation.
• Open File Explorer and locate your RAR file.
• Double-click the RAR file. It should now open in the WinRAR window.
  

  

• A message may appear asking you to buy a license. Don't worry – WinRAR still works without payment. Just click Close or OK to continue using the free version.
• Inside WinRAR, you'll see a list of files in the archive. If you want to open a file right away, double-click it to temporarily view it.
• To extract files, either select the ones you need or leave all unselected to extract everything.
• Click the Extract To button in the toolbar near the top of the window.
  

  

• A window will pop up asking where you want to save the extracted files. You can pick an existing folder or click New Folder to make a new one.
• Once you've chosen a location, click OK and the files will be extracted to that folder.