WinRAR remains the undisputed king of compression on Windows Despite the emergence of alternatives, as Microsoft has incorporated native support for more formats in File Explorer, this veteran compressor has reinvented itself from the MS-DOS era to the present day with new features, formats, and security improvements that keep it fully relevant for home and professional users, and it appears in lists of best must-have programs for Windows 10.
At the end of April he arrived WinRAR 7.21, one of the most important updates in recent timesAnd within days, WinRAR 7.22 was released, a revision focused on thoroughly refining the handling of solid archives. This 7.x branch comes after a long history of improvements that began in 1993 with RAR for MS-DOS and have included such significant milestones as the introduction of the RAR5 format and the correction of critical vulnerabilities exploited in real-world malware campaigns.
What is WinRAR today and why is it still so important?
WinRAR is the Windows version of the RAR archiverOriginally developed by Eugene Roshal, it has become the standard for compressing and decompressing files on PCs. Although many associate it only with the classic .rar format, it can actually work with virtually all the relevant formats you might encounter on a daily basis.
In practice, WinRAR can open and manage RAR, ZIP, CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR, GZ, GZIP, BZ2, BZIP2, JAR, ISO, 7Z, Z, ACE 2.0, UUE, XZ, ZST, ZIPX, 001 files and many moreThis makes it a kind of Swiss Army knife for handling compressed packages from any system or application, without you having to install a different program for each format.
One of its strengths has always been the higher compression rate compared to ZIP and other classic methodsThe RAR engine, and especially the RAR5 format introduced in version 5.0 (back in 2013), allows the use of much larger compression dictionaries, going from 4 MB by default to 32 MB or more, which translates into smaller files, something key when we talk about large collections of documents, games, backups or multimedia files.
In addition to compressing, WinRAR stands out for its set of advanced features that go far beyond "package and go": creation of continuous solid archives to maximize compression, compilation into fixed-size volumes (parts), self-extracting SFX archives in EXE format, robust encryption of data and filenames using AES, Unicode support in names, recovery of damaged files and recovery volumes, among many other options.
Main technical features and compatible formats
WinRAR's native format is RAR (Roshal Archive), both in its classic variant and in RAR5. When creating files, the user can choose between RAR and ZIP, while for decompression the list is much wider, including formats very common in the professional environment and in software distribution.
Key features include continuous (solid), self-extracting, multi-volume, and encrypted archivesSolid archives allow multiple files to be grouped into a continuous data stream, which drastically improves compression when there are many small and similar files, although it complicates selective operations such as deleting a single file, which is why the latest versions (7.20, 7.21 and 7.22) have focused specifically on refining this behavior.
It is also very useful to creation of self-extracting files (SFX) in EXE formatThanks to this, you can send a compressed file to someone who doesn't have WinRAR—or has no idea what it is—and they can simply run the .exe file to decompress it without installing anything else. These SFX modules can be customized with icons, success messages (using, for example, the TextDone command), silent messages, or temporary modes.
Regarding interface, WinRAR offers both a highly polished graphical mode with drag-and-drop support.It also serves as a complete command-line interface (RAR/UnRAR) for automating processes, writing scripts, and managing files on servers or in environments without a graphical interface. The command line is particularly powerful thanks to a vast collection of modifiers and fine-grained parameters.
WinRAR 7.21: all the key new features you need to know
WinRAR 7.21 is an update focused on polishing the user experience, security, and handling of complex files.It is available in its final version for Windows in multiple languages, including Spanish, Galician, Catalan and Basque, and is distributed both from the official WinRAR website and from certified distributors.
- The ability to iInterpreting files with incorrect extensionsFor example, if you have a host.rar file containing an uncompressed nested.zip file, and you rename the container to host.zip, WinRAR 7.20 might get confused by directly displaying the contents of nested.zip when opening host.zip. The new version now displays the correct contents of host.zip, preventing confusion when handling these types of nested packages.
- The sorting by size and date in the file list so that it mimics Windows Explorer. The first click on the size or date columns establishes a descending order (largest or most recent files at the top). This is more intuitive for most users and reduces the number of clicks needed to locate important files.
- The -s=e modifier now compares extensions without distinguishing between uppercase and lowercase letters in WindowsThis means that solid statistics are no longer reset for extensions that only change in case. This is an important detail if you work with large collections of files in solid archives.
- The behavior has been refined when attempting to extract files to folders that require administrator permissions.If the user cancels the elevation dialog, the SFX module silently closes in the background, instead of throwing a folder access error.
Other bugs fixed
WinRAR 7.21 corrects several bugs carried over from previous versions, including the problem that a corrupted file could generate when deleting files from solid RAR4 archivesNow, deleting files in solid RAR4 archives reverts to the traditional method of recompressing the entire archive, as was done before version 7.20. This does not affect RAR5, but it guarantees the integrity of older files.
Another bug that was fixed affected the compression of large volumes of poorly compressible data with certain combinations of parametersWinRAR 7.x could fail to compress files or even interrupt the process, but this issue has been resolved. The inability to extract ZIP files containing comment fields has also been fixed, which could cause significant problems when dealing with archives created by other tools.
In the extraction section, WinRAR now correctly replaces reserved device names like “aux” When decompressing, errors are now avoided when working with files containing problematic names for the Windows file system. Additionally, a bug has been fixed where double-clicking a folder shortcut within the "Save WinRAR settings as" window would overwrite the shortcut with the settings instead of opening the destination folder.
On the whole, WinRAR 7.21 is a highly recommended upgrade for anyone using solid RAR4 archivesWork with commented ZIP files or handle scripts that rely on robust statistics and command-line modifiers. Improved compatibility with faulty extensions and interface alignment with Windows Explorer are also welcome additions for everyday use.
WinRAR 7.22: Maximum Stabilization of Solid Archives
WinRAR 7.22 is a stability update that further refines the entire process of deleting files into solid archives.This closes a cycle of changes that began in version 7.20 and was reinforced in 7.21. The main focus is on ensuring that the resulting files are completely reliable and do not cause checksum problems or issues with repair tools.
Solid files store All files in a continuous stream to maximize compressionThis means that deleting a single file can require reconstructing significant portions of the archive. Version 7.20 introduced optimizations to speed up deletion of solid RAR archives, but these optimizations caused a regression specifically for older RAR4 archives.
With this change, The borderline cases where the repair process could generate checksum errors are resolvedThis carries the risk of integrity check failures or difficulties recovering a modified file. In other words, some performance is sacrificed for maximum reliability, a logical decision when dealing with backups or critical files.
Version 7.22 is available for direct download from the official WinRAR website (win-rar.com) It will be released in different languages as volunteer translators complete their work. It offers compatibility with Windows 11, 10, and 8.1, while the RAR app for Android can be obtained from Google Play, and command-line versions for Linux, FreeBSD, and macOS are also actively maintained.
Other recent versions: 7.20, 7.13, 7.12 and 7.11
Before versions 7.21 and 7.22, WinRAR 7.20 introduced a good number of new features and optimizations. This is worth knowing, especially if you frequently use the command line or work with very large files. One of the most significant improvements was the increased performance when deleting files from large RAR archives.
WinRAR 7.20
The 7.20 implemented Techniques to avoid recompressing parts of the file that had not changedIf there were non-empty files after the deleted ones, that subsequent section was left as is; the preceding part was copied without recompression, decompressing in memory only if strictly necessary; and the "semi-solid" behavior only involved the blocks with deleted files. Unaffected solid blocks were copied in their entirety. In theory, this drastically reduced processing times.
Also added Improvements to the -s modifier, new name generation options with masks (-ag), support for date formatting in -tk, Internet Mark propagation controls (Zone.Identifier) and a good list of settings in the Windows 11 context menu, the use of large memory pages (2 MB) to speed up compression, and fine-tuned speed when opening and extracting giant ZIP and TAR files with millions of files.
WinRAR 7.13, 7.12 and 7.11
Versions 7.13, 7.12, and 7.11, meanwhile, focused especially on the Correction of vulnerabilities and security flawsIn versions 7.12 and 7.13, path processing problems were fixed when extracting files, which could be exploited by using files prepared to force WinRAR and the UnRAR library to use paths not intended by the user.
These updates gave public credit to the researchers of ESET already joins the Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative to discover and report vulnerabilities. In addition, the behavior of the "Generate Report" function was modified to prevent HTML injections in reports, as previously potentially dangerous tags could be slipped in through specially crafted filenames.
Version 7.11 was key to Correct several bugs found in version 7.10These included errors in updating solid files with folder and file records, problems truncating files when extracting from CAB, inconsistencies when applying SFX modules stored in compression profiles when changing the format, and interface issues such as handling units when splitting files into volumes or the position of completion messages (TextDone) when used with Silent and TempMode options.
Security: Vulnerabilities fixed and reason to update
In recent years, WinRAR has been in the spotlight due to several major vulnerabilities.Some of these vulnerabilities have been actively exploited by attackers. This makes keeping your compressor updated not just a whim, but a genuine security necessity.
As mentioned before, Version 6.23 fixed a critical vulnerability (CVE-2023-40477) This vulnerability allowed malicious code to be executed when a manipulated RAR file was opened. It was exploited, for example, by the Russian group AT29, which distributed massive infection campaigns using compressed files disguised as PDF documents, but which actually launched PowerShell scripts to grant attackers remote access.
In the 7.x branch, Versions 7.12 and 7.13 fixed path processing issuesIn which specially constructed files could trick WinRAR and related tools (RAR for Windows, UnRAR, UnRAR.dll, UnRAR portable source code) into using paths other than those defined by the user, with the consequent risk of overwriting unwanted files or escaping the established destination folders.
They have also been addressed security issues in HTML report generationThis prevents filenames containing < and > characters from being interpreted as HTML tags. They are now replaced with secure sequences, preventing potential code injection into reports generated by the program itself.
At the system level, Aspects such as the propagation of the Internet Brand (Zone.Identifier) have been refinedThis influences how Windows marks and handles files downloaded from the internet. WinRAR allows you to control whether only zone data or all available fields are transferred, preventing privacy issues when sharing files with sensitive information about the download source.
WinRAR's compatibility, licenses, and peculiar "trial mode"
In the area of the platform, WinRAR is available for Windows 7/8.1/10/11 in 64-bitRAR is also available for Linux (32-bit and 64-bit), FreeBSD (32-bit and 64-bit), and macOS (Intel and ARM) in English, in addition to the RAR app for Android. The program is translated into more than 40 languages, and the Windows versions include editions in Spanish, Galician, Catalan, Basque, and other regional languages.
Regarding the business model, WinRAR is distributed as a 40-day trial versionOfficially, after this period, the user is expected to purchase a license, especially in commercial settings. However, and this has become almost an internet meme, the program continues to function fully even after the trial period has expired, only occasionally displaying a reminder message.
In practice, Many people use WinRAR "free" in practice.Meanwhile, companies and users who want to strictly comply with the conditions, or who wish to support development, acquire paid licenses.
Who They purchase their license through the official distributor (for example, winrar.es in Spain) They enjoy free updates to all new versions within the covered period, without needing to uninstall anything. Simply install the new trial version over the old one, and the program will automatically recognize the existing license.
If on the contrary, You purchased a license from another website for an older versionYou may need to purchase an upgrade or renewed license to take advantage of the latest 7.x versions. It's always a good idea to check your provider's upgrade policy to see if you're covered.
Upgrading to WinRAR 7.21 and 7.22: How to do it step by step
To enjoy All the new features of WinRAR 7.21 and the stability fixes of 7.22The update procedure is very simple and shouldn't give you any trouble, even if you're coming from a fairly old version.
In Windows, the usual thing is Visit the official WinRAR website or the website of your country's distributor. Download the executable file corresponding to your system and language (for example, winrar-x64-722es.exe for 64-bit Spanish). There's no need to uninstall the previous version: simply run the installer and follow the wizard.
The installer It will automatically detect if you already have a registered license. on the system (for example, from previous versions purchased from winrar.es) and will apply it to the new installation. This way, your activation is maintained without you having to re-enter your registration details.
During installation you can adjust file associations, integration with the Windows context menu, and other interface optionsFor example, you can decide whether you want WinRAR to appear in the new Windows 11 context menu, whether you want to activate the advanced features of the classic menu, or whether you prefer a light, dark, or automatic color mode depending on the system.
Once updated, you will find all the accumulated improvements from versions 7.00, 7.10, 7.11, 7.12, 7.13, 7.20, 7.21 and 7.22This includes improvements in compression speed, handling of large files, security fixes, SFX options, solid file processing, and new possibilities in compression profiles and report generation.
It is worth remembering that, although WinRAR 7.x no longer supports Windows Vista or 32-bit versionsSelf-extracting modules will still be executable on older 32-bit systems, ensuring some backward compatibility when generating SFX for third parties.
