How to Extract a RAR Computer File. While downloading software applications for your business, you may encounter files that you cannot open.

When you open a RAR file on your Mac, it will turn into a folder where you can access all of the decompressed files. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

To open RAR files, you can use WinRAR, which is the software made by the company that invented RAR technology. To open .001 files, you need another program, such as HJSplit, 7-Zip or File Joiner.