Compressed files are very useful, especially for sharing files over the Internet. Thanks to them we can send all the files we want within a single file, which also occupies less than the sum of all of them. Thus, this task is much simpler and easier than if we had to send hundreds of files one by one. The only thing we need to compress, or decompress, a file is a file compressor. And the most famous and used worldwide is WinRAR.
Although Windows includes a file compressor and decompressor, it is too simple. Windows only allows us to open ZIP files from the operating system itself, and compress the files we want to this format. However, if we want to be able to work with other formats (such as RAR or 7Zip, among many others) it is necessary to resort to much more advanced programs. As is the case with WinRAR.
WinRAR: a must-have for any Windows user
WinRAR has been with us since 1995, although it was not until the early 2000s when it became more popular. Popularity that, today, remains at the top. Although many programs allow you to read the RAR format (owner of RARLAB) and decompress the compressed files in this format, only WinRAR allows you to compress files to this format.
There are several features that make WinRAR stand out over other file compressors. The first one is, of course, the support for the RAR format . This compression algorithm has a better compression rate than ZIP, greater security (AES-128 bits) and a large number of possibilities in terms of security and data recovery functions. It also allows dividing large compressed files into smaller parts (r00, r01, etc.) and the possibility of creating self-executing files (exe) to be able to extract them without the need for a compressor.
Regarding compatibility, WinRAR has absolute support for ZIP and RAR formats, but it is compatible with 15 formats and file compression algorithms, among which we can highlight CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR, GZ, UUE, BZ2, JAR , ISO, 7Z, XZ and Z. With this program we can read virtually any file, it has been compressed with the algorithm that has been.
RAR5, a new format in an already crowded market
Version 5.0 of this file compressor brought with it a new algorithm, RAR5. Although this format is not compatible with any of the previous versions of the program, it introduces very interesting developments, such as 256-bit encryption and easier to recover damaged files. Again, only WinRAR can compress files in RAR5, although most compressors today can decompress it.
Despite its advantages, users do not end up encouraging to use this new file system. RAR and ZIP remain the most used throughout the network.
You can compress and unzip files even without computer skills
In addition to its compatibility, another of WinRAR’s strengths is its ease of use. The concept of ” compressing a file ” may be strange for some users. However, it doesn’t have to be scary.
The main interface of this program allows us to easily access all the functions it offers us. We can find from a wizard to create compressed files to the scan engine for viruses within any compressed file.
If we have downloaded any compressed file from the Internet, we can easily open it simply by double clicking on it. We can automatically see all the files that the archive contains. We can open any file again with double click , or extract all the files to the directory that we want. We can also extract compressed files by right clicking on it.
Compressing files is also very simple thanks to this program. Simply select the files you want from our computer, right click on them and select the WinRAR menu to compress them. We can also create a new compressed file with the right button by selecting New> WinRAR File . And we can also do the same from the program itself, using the excellent assistant that includes its main interface.
The wizard included in WinRAR will allow us to easily create compressed files, unzip files and even add files to a previously created ZIP or RAR file.
WinRAR free download
There are many websites that allow us to download WinRAR for free. Or buy a license for this program. And many of them are fake and want to cheat us. WinRAR is a payment program, although we can use it for free and without limitations for 40 days (although the trial period never ends).
If we want to download the latest version of this program, and do it safely and without risk, we simply have to access its main website, from the following link . We can choose if we want to download the latest stable version, or try first the news with the WinRAR beta .
The latest version of WinRAR is available for all Windows users, from XP Service Pack 3 to Windows 10. And it is compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit systems. We can also find WinRAR for other operating systems, including Android, macOS and Linux. Although all versions that are not for Windows are for command line.
You no longer have an excuse not to use compressed files. And less considering that WinRAR’s 40-day trial has always lasted forever. And they always will. But even so, if you want to pay the license of the program, we must bear in mind that its price is 36.24 euros, although we can get it for only 20 euros if we take advantage of its promotion.
