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CAB RAR
File conversion

Convert CAB to RAR

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jul 14, 2026
QUICK ANSWER
Is it possible to convert CAB to RAR?
Yes - CAB converts to RAR.

There is no direct one-step conversion; you extract the .cab first, then compress the files into a new .rar. WinRAR handles both steps in one application. Keep in mind that only WinRAR can create RAR archives locally - free tools like 7-Zip read .cab but cannot write .rar.

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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 CAB to RAR?

CAB files are strongly associated with Windows installers and driver packages, which can cause confusion when sharing unrelated content. Repacking the contents as .RAR produces a general-purpose archive that recipients can open on any OS without assuming it is a Windows setup component. Some users also prefer RAR for its recovery record and multi-volume splitting features.

How to convert CAB to RAR

WinRAR FREE TRIAL

Open the .cab in WinRAR, extract the contents to a folder, then right-click the folder and choose Add to archive with RAR format selected.

IZArc FREE

Use IZArc to extract the .cab, then open WinRAR to repack the extracted files as a .rar archive.

Command line - expand + rar CLI

Extract with the Windows built-in expander and repack with WinRAR: expand source.cab -F:* out && rar a output.rar out\*.

Programs that convert CAB

WinRAR
ALZip
IZArc
FilZip

About these formats

.CAB Windows Cabinet Archive

A CAB (Cabinet) file is Microsoft's compressed archive format, used to ship Windows drivers, updates, and installer payloads. On Windows, double-click it in File Explorer to browse, or use…

Open .CAB 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

  • Only WinRAR can create .rar files locally - 7-Zip, IZArc, and similar free tools can extract .cab but cannot write .rar.
  • Digital signatures on driver and Windows update cabinets are stripped when repacking; the resulting .rar cannot be used for driver installation.
  • Multi-part cabinets split across several .cab files need all parts in the same folder before extraction can begin.

Frequently asked questions

Can I convert CAB to RAR without installing WinRAR?
Yes - use our free converter above; no software needed. For local conversion, only WinRAR can produce .rar files; other free tools extract the .cab but output .7z or .zip instead.
Will the files inside the archive change?
No - the file data is byte-identical to what was inside the original .cab. Only the container format and compression algorithm change.
Can I install Windows drivers from a repacked RAR?
No. Windows Device Manager and DISM require driver files in an uncompressed folder or the original signed .cab, not inside a .rar.
Will the file size be the same after conversion?
Not necessarily - CAB uses MSZIP, LZX, or Quantum compression internally, while WinRAR applies its own algorithm, so the resulting .rar may be larger or smaller than the original .cab.