Microsoft made significant announcements at its Build 2023 developers conference this week, unveiling Windows Copilot, enhancements to its Edge browser, and the integration of Bing Search into ChatGPT. However, buried within a blog post, one revelation managed to capture attention from users and the online media: Windows 11 will soon introduce native support for opening various file formats, including RAR.
While the addition of native RAR support to Windows 11 may not seem as groundbreaking today as it would have been years ago, thanks to fast internet connections and streaming services, downloading large files takes minutes or hours rather than days. Furthermore, legal streaming platforms have provided accessible alternatives to piracy for popular media, eliminating concerns about malware. Personally, I can’t recall the last time I encountered a RAR file, but perhaps I’m in the minority?
Microsoft’s adoption of RAR support comes later compared to other operating systems like ChromeOS, which have long supported the format. Nevertheless, better late than never, right?
For users on earlier versions of Windows, there are still plenty of options for handling RAR files. If WinRAR isn’t your preferred choice, you might consider alternatives like PeaZip or Zipeg. Both are free, support multiple formats, and are readily available for download.
As Microsoft continues to enhance the Windows 11 experience, the addition of native RAR support demonstrates its commitment to improving file management and meeting user demands. Stay tuned for further updates on this exciting development.
