Repair Corrupted RAR Files | Tried-and-True Methods

When you try to extract a RAR or ZIP file and encounter an error message about a corrupt archive or damaged file, the issue could be due to several reasons: the RAR opener can't recognize the header file, the RAR file didn't download completely, or there are sector or physical damages on the disk where the RAR file is stored. This article offers four methods to fix a corrupted RAR file, including repairing it. Read on for the best solutions.

1. **Repair using File Repair Software** When a RAR or Zip file is corrupted, you can use file repair software to address the issue. These tools are specifically designed to detect and fix errors within archives. Here are some popular file repair utilities: 1. **WinRAR** - This is a popular compression and decompression tool that also offers an in-built repair feature. Simply open WinRAR, right-click on the damaged RAR or Zip file, and select the "Repair" option. 2. **Stellar Repair for RAR** - This is a professional RAR file repair tool capable of handling severely damaged RAR files. It offers a free trial, but a license purchase may be required for complete repairs. 3. **Zip2Fix** - If your Zip file is corrupted, this compact tool might come in handy. It's user-friendly, but it only repairs Zip files. 4. **Advanced Archive Repair (AAR)** - This is a powerful repair utility that supports multiple archive formats, including RAR and Zip. 5. **tools Data Recovery Wizard** - Although primarily a data recovery software, it can also repair damaged compressed files under certain circumstances. Before attempting these repairs, make sure to back up the original file to avoid any potential loss. The usage of each software may vary, so refer to their respective instructions for proper operation.

< a href="/knowledge-center/difference-between-zip-and-rar.html" > RAR and ZIP files are commonly used to compress and store data such as documents, photos, and videos. However, these files can become corrupted during downloads, virus attacks, power outages, disk errors, or human errors.

When this happens, you might see error messages like "archive is corrupt" or "can't extract the zip file" when you try to open or extract them. You can use a corrupted RAR file repair tool like the Fixo File Repair Tool to fix damaged RAR or ZIP files.

This software is specifically designed to help repair and recover files in formats such as EXE, RAR, and ZIP. It handles file recovery from issues like corruption, damage, encryption problems, and compatibility concerns.

The software is compatible with both Windows and Mac computers and works seamlessly with various versions of Office and Adobe. You can use this file repair software to fix corrupted RAR files by following these steps:

Step 1: Download and run Fixo on your computer or laptop. Choose "File Repair" to fix corrupted Office documents, including Word, Excel, PDF, and more. Click "Add File" to select the damaged document.

Step 2: Click “Repair All” to fix multiple files at once. If you only want to repair one, hover over the target file and click “Repair.” You can also preview the document by clicking the eye icon.

Step 3: Click “Save” to save the selected documents. Choose “Save All” to save all repaired files. Select “View Repaired Files” to locate the folder where the repaired files are saved.

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Solution 2: Use WinRAR to Repair Corrupted RAR File

WinRAR is a globally recognized compression and archiving manager. Apart from compressing, packing, and encrypting backups on your computer, it also lets you view the contents of RAR files without extracting them.

Its inbuilt file repair feature has been found to be the solution for restoring RAR files to their original state.

Step 1: First, install WinRAR on your computer.

Step 2: Right-click the damaged RAR file and select "Open with WinRAR."

Step 3: Click on “Tools” from the toolbar. Select “Repair Archive” from the drop-down list.

Step 4: A window will appear; click “Browse” to choose where you want to save the repaired RAR file. Make sure the “Save as type” is still set to RAR, then click “OK” to start the repair process.

Step 5: After a few moments, the corrupted RAR file will be completely repaired and saved. Click the Close button.

Click the Close button.

Step 6: Navigate to the location you chose earlier. The repaired RAR file will be named "rebuilt.filename.RAR."

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Method 3: Try Forced Extraction to Repair Corrupted RAR File

If you encounter problems extracting files after a repair, WinRAR lets you choose to keep the files and ignore error messages to extract them anyway.

Step 1. Right-click on the damaged RAR/ZIP file and choose “Open with WinRAR.”

Step 2. In the WinRAR window, click the "Extract To" button on the toolbar to extract the files.

Step 3. In the “Extract Path and Options” window that appears, specify the target path where you want to save the extracted files.

Step 4. Before you proceed, make sure to check the “Keep broken files” box in the “Other” section of the “Extract Paths and Options” window.

Step 5: Finally, click on “OK” to start extracting the files from the RAR/ZIP archive. This process will also preserve any corrupted files. If you get any error messages during the extraction, you can safely ignore them and continue with the file extraction.

Frequently Asked Questions on Repairing Corrupted RAR Files

This section caters to queries regarding repairing corrupted RAR files.

1. Can damaged files be repaired?

Yes, files can be repaired. You can use file repair tools or replace the file with a backup copy to fix it. These utilities scan, analyze, reconstruct, extract, and recover data to repair the file. File repair tools employ techniques that involve scanning, analyzing, reconstructing, extracting, and recovering data.

Unfortunately, not all damaged files can be repaired completely, depending on the extent of the damage. If you have a copy of the file, you can replace the damaged one with it to recover your information.

2. How does the RAR repair feature work in WinRAR?

WinRAR includes a utility to repair damaged RAR files. To use WinRAR to repair a RAR file, please follow these steps;

1. Step 1. Start the program. Select the damaged RAR file.
2. Step 2. Click the "Repair" button on the toolbar, or press Alt + R.
3. Step 3. Choose a target folder to save the recovered file and select "Treat archive as RAR."
4. Step 4. Wait for the repair process to finish, then verify the repaired file in the designated folder.

WinRAR will attempt to salvage as much data as possible from the corrupted RAR file and create a new one marked as “rebuilt.” However, depending on the severity of the corruption, some data may still be lost or unrecoverable.

Conclusions

This article provides solutions to fix a corrupted RAR file. Try any of the repair methods to see which one works for you. If your file is damaged, use the Fixo File Repair tool to fix it. Aside from this most effective method, you can also try repairing the corrupt RAR archive by using WinRAR or extracting it forcefully.