How to Extract a Multipart RAR Archive on Mac

Updated · Sanii Verma

Guide · 1 min read

Put every part of the split archive in the same folder with its original name, then open only the first part — name.part1.rar, or name.rar in an older .r00 set. The extractor reads the other parts in order and produces one folder of files.

A RAR archive can be split into several files, called volumes, so it can be uploaded or sent in pieces. You need all of them to get the files out, but you only ever open one.

Recognise the parts

There are two naming styles:

StyleFilesOpen this one
Newername.part1.rar, name.part2.rar, name.part3.rarname.part1.rar
Oldername.rar, name.r00, name.r01, …name.rar

In the newer style, an archive with more than nine parts may be numbered part01, part02, and so on; the first part is still the one to open.

Extract it with Rar Extractor

  1. Download every part into the same folder. Do not rename them.
  2. Open the first part: drop it on the window, double-click it, or use Choose a file….
  3. Type the password if the archive has one. All parts share it, and you are asked once.
  4. Open the folder. The contents of the whole set land in one folder next to the first part. Click Show in Finder.

You do not need to join the parts first, and you should not try: the extractor reads them in sequence by name.

If something goes wrong

"Open the first part of this archive (.part1.rar), not a later part." You opened part 2 or later. Open the first part instead.

"A later part of this split archive is missing." One of the parts is not next to the others. Check that:

  • every part finished downloading (compare sizes; all but the last are usually the same size),
  • none was renamed by the browser, for example name.part2 (1).rar,
  • they are all in the same folder, not split between Downloads and Desktop.

"Corrupted archive (CRC error)." One of the parts is damaged. Download that part again.

More causes are in RAR file not opening on Mac.

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