How to Open Vlc Rar Files on Mac? Easy Solution

When it comes to managing and playing multimedia files on your Mac, VLC is one of the most popular and reliable options available. With its ability to play a wide range of file formats, including videos, audio files, and even DVDs, VLC has become a staple in many Mac users’ libraries. However, sometimes you may come across a file that is compressed in a .rar format, which can be a bit tricky to open and play using VLC. In this article, we will explore the steps to open VLC rar files on Mac, and provide some additional tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your VLC experience.

What are .rar Files?

A .rar file is a type of compressed file format that is commonly used to reduce the size of large files, making them easier to store and transfer. The .rar format is developed by WinRAR, a popular file archiver software, and is widely supported by many operating systems, including Mac OS.

Why Can’t VLC Open .rar Files?

By default, VLC is not designed to open .rar files directly. This is because .rar files are compressed archives that require a special software or plugin to extract and decompress the contents. VLC, on the other hand, is a media player that is designed to play and stream multimedia files, not to extract and decompress compressed files.

How to Open VLC Rar Files on Mac?

So, how can you open VLC rar files on your Mac? The answer is simple: you need to extract the contents of the .rar file first, and then play the extracted file using VLC. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Extract the .rar File

To extract the .rar file, you can use a third-party software or plugin that is specifically designed for extracting compressed files. Some popular options include:

WinRAR (free trial, paid version available)
7-Zip (free and open-source)
Unarchiver (free and open-source)

Once you have installed the software or plugin, simply right-click on the .rar file and select “Extract” or “Unzip” to extract the contents. You can then save the extracted files to a new location on your Mac.

Step 2: Play the Extracted File using VLC

Once you have extracted the contents of the .rar file, you can play the extracted file using VLC. Simply open VLC and navigate to the location where you saved the extracted file. You can then drag and drop the file into the VLC window or select it from the “File” menu and choose “Open File”.

Additional Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your VLC experience:

Tip 1: Use VLC’s Built-in Compression Tool

VLC has a built-in compression tool that allows you to compress and decompress files. To access this tool, simply open VLC and navigate to “Tools” > “Compression”. From here, you can compress or decompress files using various compression algorithms.

Tip 2: Use VLC’s Built-in Archive Tool

VLC also has a built-in archive tool that allows you to create and extract archives. To access this tool, simply open VLC and navigate to “Tools” > “Archive”. From here, you can create and extract archives using various archive formats.

Tip 3: Use a Third-Party Plugin

If you want to open .rar files directly in VLC without having to extract them first, you can use a third-party plugin. Some popular options include:

RarPlugin (free and open-source)
RarArchive (free and open-source)

These plugins can be installed using the VLC plugin manager or by downloading and installing them manually.

Recap

In this article, we have explored the steps to open VLC rar files on Mac, and provided some additional tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your VLC experience. By following the steps outlined above, you should be able to extract and play .rar files using VLC. Remember to always use a third-party software or plugin to extract the contents of the .rar file, and to use VLC’s built-in compression and archive tools to compress and decompress files.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I open .rar files directly in VLC without extracting them first?

A: No, VLC is not designed to open .rar files directly. You need to extract the contents of the .rar file first using a third-party software or plugin, and then play the extracted file using VLC.

Q: What are some popular software or plugins that can extract .rar files?

A: Some popular software or plugins that can extract .rar files include WinRAR, 7-Zip, Unarchiver, RarPlugin, and RarArchive.

Q: Can I compress files using VLC?

A: Yes, VLC has a built-in compression tool that allows you to compress and decompress files. To access this tool, simply open VLC and navigate to “Tools” > “Compression”.

Q: Can I create and extract archives using VLC?

A: Yes, VLC also has a built-in archive tool that allows you to create and extract archives. To access this tool, simply open VLC and navigate to “Tools” > “Archive”.

Q: Are there any third-party plugins that can help me open .rar files directly in VLC?

A: Yes, there are several third-party plugins available that can help you open .rar files directly in VLC. Some popular options include RarPlugin and RarArchive.