How to join RAR or ZIP files

Dividing large files into many small fragments was a common practice in the days of analog modems, since downloading a single 1GB or more file could take days or weeks. Instead, following the "divide et impera" philosophy, downloading single fragments of the 100MB file allowed to stop the download after a total of fragments and to continue at another time, without having to start over. With the arrival of ADSL and above all of optical fiber, we can download dozens of GB in a short time, making this practice practically fall into disuse. You may still come across a file divided into many fragments, often in RAR format: in these scenarios this guide is placed, in which we will show you how to merge the RAR and ZIP files (or even other types of archives) so you can get the original file and extract its contents .
In the guide we will cover both the free programs available for Windows and Mac and the free apps available for Android and iOS.
READ ALSO: Free and fast WinRAR alternatives

How to merge RAR and ZIP files on Windows and Mac

The most likely scenario where we will find ourselves with numerous archives to merge is certainly the computer. In this part of the guide we will show you the best free programs that we can use to be able to join RAR or ZIP files. Only recommendation before using all programs: we place the files to be merged in a single folder, so as not to run into errors during the extraction.

7-Zip

The best free program to bring together RAR and ZIP files is definitely 7-Zip.

To merge compressed archives and extract the contents, open the program, go to the path or folder where the files to be merged are saved, select the first RAR file of the series and click the Extract button; in the next window, we choose a path where to extract the content. In a few minutes the files will be brought together automatically during extraction, so you can access the previously divided content. Compatibility with split RAR files is very good, as is the extraction speed.

PeaZip

Another very useful free program to join RAR and ZIP files is PeaZip.

To merge and extract the contents of the RAR or ZIP files, navigate within the interface until you get to the folder where the archive files are to be merged, select the first file in the series and click on Extract at the top. In the window that appears we will only have to select the path in which to extract the contents of the divided compressed files.
Compatibility is also very good in this case, with a lower extraction speed compared to 7-Zip (but on powerful computers it is not even known).

Bandizip

Another free program that we can use to join RAR and ZIP files is Bandizip.

Once the program is open, click on Open archive, select the first archive of the series and select the path where to save the content divided between the various compressed files. The program is currently one of the fastest that we can use to join RAR and ZIP files, but it could present some problems with too many fragments (over 20).

B1 Free Archiver

One of the best for compatibility and decompression speed is B1 Free Archiver, available for free.

With this program we will only have to view the folder in which we have kept the files to be merged, select the first file in the series and press the Open button first then Extract . In a similar way to other programs, we will now have to choose the path where to save the contents of the compressed archives.
As mentioned in the introduction, this program is one of the best for compatibility with split RAR files and one of the best for decompression speed.

WinRAR

However, if we want to obtain maximum compatibility and extraction speed, we can install on our computer WinRAR, the program with which it is possible to create this type of divided files.

Once the program is open, we browse through the folders on our computer until we find the one where we have gathered all the files to be divided, click on the first file and then on Extract to . The program will let us choose where to save the content: choose a folder of your choice or create a new one that acts as a container for the extracted files.
Currently there is no program with greater compatibility and speed in merging RAR files (and we would miss it!), But WinRAR is provided for free only for 30 days, after which a paid user license is required. In truth the program continues to work even after the deadline, we will only have to go beyond the initial screen where we will be reminded to pay the license.

How to join RAR or ZIP files on Android and iPhone

After seeing the programs for Windows and Mac, in this part of the guide we will show you the apps to be able to recover RAR files, in case they happen to be in our hands while using the smartphone. Just like on a PC, we advise you to place the various files to be merged in a single folder of the internal memory or the microSD (if present), so that you can quickly proceed with the union and the subsequent extraction.
The best apps we can try on Android smartphones or tablets are:

1. Solid Explorer: one of the best file managers available on the green robot, with full support for compressed archives, even those divided into multiple volumes.
2. RAR: the official app with which to extract the contents of all RAR compressed files, even those divided into many volumes. Currently the fastest and most practical with RAR files on Android.
3. Simple Unrar: another simple app with which you can merge and extract all the RAR files downloaded from the Internet or exchanged via social media or chat.

On iPhone and iPad we can use one of the following apps to merge ZIP and RAR files:

1. iZip - Zip Unzip Unrar Tool: a valid app to unpack and gather RAR files but also other types of compressed archives (such as ZIP files).
2. File Manager & Browser: a complete file manager for iOS with which to combine RAR files and unpack them in a folder of your choice.
3. FileMaster: another file manager with RAR file support, even in multi-volume mode.

Conclusions

If we came across a multi-volume RAR or ZIP type file, with the programs and apps recommended in this guide we will be able to manage them without problems, by combining and extracting the content in a simple and fast way.
Is the archive password protected and can we not open it? In this case, we recommend reading our guide Finding or removing passwords from protected ZIP and RAR files . If, on the other hand, the compressed archive is corrupt or damaged, we can attempt recovery by reading the suggestions contained in our guide on how to extract and recover damaged or corrupt ZIP and RAR files .
READ ALSO: Programs to compress extract and open ZIP, RAR or other archives