[update] Added more detail about different RAR packages and Ubuntu 8.04.
Downloaded a file compressed in the RAR format and found that Archive Manager couldn’t open it? RAR support can’t be included in Ubuntu by default because it’s proprietary, but installing it is simple.
There are two options for opening RAR files in Ubuntu:
- The package unrar-free is an open source project for opening RAR files. However, this package may not be able to handle all types of RAR archives. You need to have the Ubuntu universe repository enabled to install this package.
Install unrar-free from the package unrar-free (click the link to install), or by running the command below in your terminal:
sudo apt-get install unrar-free - The package unrar is not open source, but should be able to open any RAR files you can find. This is likely the option you want. You need to have the Ubuntu multiverse repository enabled to install this package.
Install unrar from the package unrar (click the link to install), or by running the command below in your terminal:
sudo apt-get install unrar
After either of these package are installed, RAR archives will open seamlessly in Ubuntu’s archive manager.
You may also be interested in installing support for the open source 7z archive format.
Enjoyed this post? 
The unrar package installs the free and open source library for extracting rar files. There’s also a binary-only version (but free for use) from RAR-Labs (who created the RAR format). It has a more complete support for all features of the RAR format. It is located in Ubuntu Repositories under the package “unrar-nonfree”. To install it, just type : sudo install unrar-nonfree.
hi,
i recently installed the package but why is unrar in comparision to wine+winrar so slow? it takes the double time to extract a file…
any idea?
I use sudo apt-get install rar
mmhh. i already installed the nonfree version… is there maybe a switch or setting for dual core support?
wine+winrar will run slow because wine is running the windows apis inside of linux, that is the processor is processing both the apis and the winrar and linux
Someone please can help me ? i have a problem i dont know what to do for rar archive …… i type in termina sudo apt-get install rar but nothis in termina after i type(up) tell me that
==============================LOOK=====================
newuser@newuser-desktop:~$ sudo apt-get install rar
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
Package rar is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
E: Package rar has no installation candidate
HELP ME PLEase
Rheboot,
The package you need is called unrar:
sudo apt-get install unrar
Thanks!! Works!
I am also facing the same problem in installing unrar. The problem same as Rheboot, I tried to used the command sudo apt-get install unrar it is not installing unrar and give the following message….
————
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
Package unrar is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
E: Package unrar has no installation candidate
———
Could some one help me how to install unrar
thanks in advance
prasad
prasad:
Try enabling the multiverse repository in System->Administration->Software Sources.
[...] may also be interested in adding similar support for RAR archives. Enjoyed this post and want more news, tips, and how-tos for Ubuntu Linux? Subscribe to Tombuntu [...]
You all can use 7-zip i guess… its free, open source and handles rar files among many others…
Hi. Thanks. Simple instructions – worked a treat.
thanks a lot man..
[...] que el blog Tombuntu ha publicado otra solución opensource aquí. Sin embargo, este proyecto opensource no funciona con todos los archivos [...]
Hola Geekets ¿no sabes de algo tipo plug in que se pueda poner y funcione para lo mismo?
If you already enabled the multiverse repository, try updating your apt fist:
sudo apt-get update
Then install unrar:
sudo apt-get install unrar
wowww…….
i got solution to my problem only here…
thanxxxxxxxxxx a lotttt……..
Yup! “sudo apt-get install unrar” works just fine – and thanks so much
ya i also try this and its working fine
Thanks for this………….
THANKS
yes-thanks for the info. worked perfectly!
Thanks so much. I am new but with your steps I was able to read a .rar document
Thank you. I downloaded a rar file/package today then installed: sudo apt-get install unrar-free. Typed in unrar to get the command/switches needed (all I needed was the e command) and the files I wanted were there. No problems. Thanks again.
thanks for the guide.
When I attempt to unrar my old school work I am asked for a password (there was no password set for these files). I had no problem installing multiple rar format packages, but I am unable to access the contents of my multi-file item. anyone have any ideas?
I had the same trouble MoeJoe, and it appears that it prompts for a password when the zip or rar archive is damaged or incomplete. I found that it happened often. When I re-downloaded rars it worked fine. Perhaps try it in windows, unfortunate as that is; that’s my only advice, esp. for you own rars that you can’t just re-download. good luck!
does ubuntu 7.04 still supported ? because I can’t update my ubuntu from repositories sites
Thank you so much, the unrar-free worked even on Jaunty Jackalope.
Thanks much for the info. haven’t installed it yet but im sure it will work. How about using wine to install winrar?
[...] http://tombuntu.com/index.php/2008/02/15/open-rar-archives-in-ubuntu/ [...]
Thank you sooo much.
I was looking for a way to extract multiple files and assumed .r00 (.rXX) was a 7zip file. Decided to check for RAR support, stumbled here (after 20-30 minutes of fannying with the terminal
) and had it installed and extracted in about a minute or two.
Thank you very much
Being a real old NOOB I installed unrar free from the link and when I try extract I get just the folder created from the archive but no files. So if this is one of the files free won’t extract how do I remove free so I can install the other one?
thx
Thanks!!! It worked for me. I was extracting Rar files in a couple of minutes.
Offtopic:
I recently started using Ubuntu Netbook Remix (on my new netbook) because I was so pissed with windows 7 starter edition (not allowed to even change wallpaper!). Been Googling for help and your website has helped me transition quite painlessly. Thanks again!
ya it worked
Thank u very much……………
You can also try http://www.openrarfile.com it’s an online tool for opening zip and rar files.
No software to download…works good for psp and mobile devices.