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Convert ARJ to RAR

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Aug 23, 2026
QUICK ANSWER
Is it possible to convert ARJ to RAR?
Yes - ARJ converts to RAR.

The fastest path is to use our free converter above: upload the .arj file and download the finished .rar. If you prefer to work locally, you must extract the ARJ first and then repack the contents into RAR using WinRAR - no free desktop tool can create .rar files, since RAR is proprietary.

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Also to RAR: SCS · UU · NBA

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert ARJ to RAR?

ARJ is a DOS-era format from 1991 that most modern software no longer supports natively. Converting to .RAR makes sense when a recipient specifically requires RAR, or when you want RAR's built-in recovery records and solid archive features. In practice ZIP or 7z are more convenient targets, but RAR remains widely understood and is handled natively by WinRAR.

How to convert ARJ to RAR

WinRAR TRIAL

WinRAR can open .arj archives and create .rar files, making it the only desktop tool that handles both steps without a separate extractor.

ALZip FREE

ALZip is free for personal use on Windows and supports both .arj extraction and .rar creation from its archive manager.

sArchiver APP

sArchiver on macOS can open .arj archives and export the contents as a new .rar file.

Command line - rar CLI

Extract with 7-Zip then repack: 7z x archive.arj -oextracted && rar a output.rar ./extracted

Programs that convert ARJ

WinRAR
ALZip
FilZip
sArchiver

About these formats

.ARJ ARJ Compressed Archive

An ARJ file is a compressed archive created by the ARJ archiver, a popular DOS-era tool by Robert K. Jung. To open one today, use 7-Zip on Windows, The Unarchiver or Keka on Mac, or 7z on…

Open .ARJ details →
.RAR RAR Archive (Roshal ARchive)

A RAR file is a compressed archive that bundles and shrinks one or more files into a single container, often split into parts or password-protected. To open one for free, use 7-Zip on…

Open .RAR details →

Quality & what to watch

  • RAR is proprietary - only RARLAB's rar binary or WinRAR can create .rar files; no free open-source archiver has this capability.
  • Conversion is always two steps (extract then repack); any ARJ password protection does not carry over to the new RAR archive.
  • RAR5 typically compresses better than ARJ's legacy LZ77 method, so the output .rar is often smaller than the original .arj.

Frequently asked questions

Can I convert ARJ to RAR for free?
Our converter above is free. For local DIY conversion, extracting the .arj is free (7-Zip, PeaZip), but creating the .rar requires WinRAR, which is paid software that operates indefinitely in trial mode with a nag screen.
Does WinRAR open ARJ files?
Yes - WinRAR extracts .arj archives and creates .rar files, so you can complete the entire conversion with WinRAR alone without installing a separate tool.
Will my ARJ password transfer to the RAR?
No. ARJ's garble protection and RAR encryption are incompatible; you will need to set a new password in WinRAR when creating the RAR if the output needs to be protected.
What if my ARJ is split into volumes (.A01, .A02)?
Place all volume files in the same folder, then open just the .arj (the first part) with your archiver - it will read the remaining parts automatically before you repack.