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At the last Microsoft Build conference, a major announcement was made: native support for RAR files by Windows 11. This news, expected for decades, eliminates the need to use WinRAR to open these files. WinRAR reacted to this novelty.
While we were reviewing the latest in Windows 11 at Microsoft’s recent Build conference, a no less delectable detail caught our eye. One feature that we’re sure got muffled applause from all Windows users: native RAR file support.
Yes, you read correctly. You no longer need to resort to WinRAR, this essential utility whose trial version pop-up window has more persistence than chewing gum stuck under your shoe. Microsoft, with its boundless wisdom, has decided to give us what we’ve been waiting for for decades. What am I saying, what we always knew we wanted: to open .RAR files without the need for WinRAR.
The RAR format has been around for 30 years
“ It took Microsoft 30 years to implement RAR file support in the Windows operating system said Louise Cusworth of WinRAR’s sales team. You can almost feel the amusement mixed with exasperation. After all, who would have thought that Microsoft would finally wake up and implement this feature in 2023?
But what will these noble WinRAR developers do now, now that their utility is threatened with obsolescence? After all, they’ve spent years building robust software capable of extracting files of all shapes and sizes in compression. They faced the competition bravely, fighting for every download. And now they must face the reality of the end of their reign.
They are worried, of course. Microsoft has just encroached on their territory. But, as Louise Cusworth points out, there may be people who are even more worried. After all, WinRAR is not the only tool capable of opening RAR files.
So what’s left for WinRAR?
So what’s left for WinRAR? They hope that this move by Microsoft will make RAR compression even more popular and accessible. And they continue to hope that there will be enough people to support their small business, to allow them to continue developing WinRAR. After all, without WinRAR, who will constantly remind us that our trial version has expired?
WinRAR uses a proprietary compression algorithm, RAR, by default, but it is also able to compress in ZIP format and extract archives in 7z, bzip2, ARJ, CAB, gzip, ISO, JAR, LZH, TAR, UUE formats and Z.
The battle is not quite over yet. Microsoft plans to deploy support for compression formats in several stages, and it is still necessary to have specific programs to compress files. WinRAR can still fight for every user, every download.
TECH
Is WinRAR in a hopeless situation? The software publisher reacts
Is WinRAR in a hopeless situation? This is suggested by a meme shared by the editor.
Soon, you will no longer need to download WinRAR on Windows, which may worsen the situation of its editor. Microsoft will indeed natively support the .rar format on a future Windows 11 update. WinRAR has already reacted twice to this change, including a reaction on Twitter with a very revealing meme.
WinRAR has a strange business model, in that it’s not really freeware or paid software. Officially, after 40 days of free trial, the user needs to pay a license to continue using the .rar file compression and decompression software.
- Windows 11 will support .rar files
- You will no longer need to download WinRAR to open these files
- Find out the publisher’s reaction to this surprise announcement from Microsoft
Soon, you will no longer need to download WinRAR on Windows, which may worsen the situation of its editor. Microsoft will indeed natively support the .rar format on a future Windows 11 update. WinRAR has already reacted twice to this change, including a reaction on Twitter with a very revealing meme.
WinRAR has a strange business model, in that it’s not really freeware or paid software. Officially, after 40 days of free trial, the user needs to pay a license to continue using the .rar file compression and decompression software.
In fact, however, even when the user does not pay for the license, he can continue to use this software. The model therefore does not encourage users to pay for this license. And over the years, WinRAR has inspired memes and jokes of all kinds on the web.
Windows puts WinRAR in trouble
However, the situation of the publisher of this software could be even more difficult, when the update from Microsoft is deployed. The Windows 11 update, which includes support for rar, tar, 7-zip and gz formats, could arrive this fall. And once it is available, users will no longer need to download WinRAR to open supported files.
- Windows 11 will support .rar files
- You will no longer need to download WinRAR to open these files
- Find out the publisher’s reaction to this surprise announcement from Microsoft
Soon, you will no longer need to download WinRAR on Windows, which may worsen the situation of its editor. Microsoft will indeed natively support the .rar format on a future Windows 11 update. WinRAR has already reacted twice to this change, including a reaction on Twitter with a very revealing meme.
WinRAR has a strange business model, in that it’s not really freeware or paid software. Officially, after 40 days of free trial, the user needs to pay a license to continue using the .rar file compression and decompression software.
In fact, however, even when the user does not pay for the license, he can continue to use this software. The model therefore does not encourage users to pay for this license. And over the years, WinRAR has inspired memes and jokes of all kinds on the web.
Windows puts WinRAR in trouble
However, the situation of the publisher of this software could be even more difficult, when the update from Microsoft is deployed. The Windows 11 update, which includes support for rar, tar, 7-zip and gz formats, could arrive this fall. And once it is available, users will no longer need to download WinRAR to open supported files.
This will inevitably significantly reduce the number of users of the WinRAR software (which now totals more than 500 million users). And if the number of users decreases, the number of potential customers for WinRAR license will also decrease.
A week ago, a WinRAR representative quoted by Neowin said the company is honored by Microsoft’s decision to support .rar files. Indeed, this will make the format even more popular. But on the other hand, WinRAR is also worried.
“We are a small company and Microsoft is a large, multi-billion dollar international company with a lot of power”, also said the representative. However, WinRAR can be positive taking into account that its software remains essential for creating .rar files (Windows 11 only supports opening these files).
A meme that says a lot?
As for the meme recently shared on Twitter, it seems to suggest that WinRAR’s situation is very difficult. As the Know Your Meme site explains, this anthropomorphic dog trying to reassure himself in a burning room “is generally used as a reaction image to convey a sense of selflessness or acceptance in the face of a hopeless situation.”
Is WinRAR really in a hopeless situation? In any case, 28 years after its creation, the company will probably have to review its economic model. And moreover, this is suggested by his representative in the statement relayed by Neowin. “We need to keep developing WinRAR to make it even more appealing to users, and we have just released WinRAR 6.22 beta version and are currently working on a major update, which should be ready by the end of the year. year”she said.
What features could WinRAR offer to keep people downloading its software despite .rar format support on Windows?
