Want to know how to password protect a RAR file? In WinRAR on Windows, select your files you want to add password, click Add to archive, set the password by clicking Set password and entering the desired password two times. On a Mac, RARLAB’s Terminal tool does the work with the command rar a -p. A new RAR file gets created in both cases that asks for the password when you try to open it.

What You’ll Learn Hide
  1. Why Your RAR File Needs a Password?
  2. Password Protect a RAR File: All Methods
  3. Windows Users Steps
  4. Mac Users Steps
  5. How to Choose a Strong Password?
  6. How to Remove Password From a RAR File?
  7. What If You Can’t Remember the RAR File Password?
  8. Professional Tool Method
  9. Mistakes to Avoid
  10. End Note
  11. FAQs

A RAR file is highly portable since you can attach it to an email, drop it on a flash drive or share other people a download link. The problem starts when an unauthorized person gets it. This guide explains how to password protect a RAR file on Windows and Mac. It also shows how to remove the password from a RAR File and what to try when you lose it. Additionally, read this if you want to open locked RAR file without password

Why Your RAR File Needs a Password?

When you learn how to password protect a RAR file it helps in three common ways.

  • Strangers cannot access or read your password protected file.
  • An accidentally sent email to the wrong address stays safe.
  • Your information is safe if you lose your flash drive.

How to Password Protect a RAR File: All Methods

You will find instructions below on how to password protect a RAR file on Windows and Mac Windows uses WinRAR and Mac uses a Terminal program from RARLAB.

How to Password Protect a RAR File on Windows?

Windows does not have a built-in tool for creating RAR files. You will need to download WinRAR on your PC.

#1: Set Password on RAR File with the Right-Click Menu

This method works straight from File Explorer.

  1. Right click the files and choose Add to archive. If you are a Windows 11 user click Show more option first.
  2. Make sure that the archive format is set to RAR.
  3. Click “Set password” and type your preferred password in both boxes.
  4. Tick the Encrypt file names checkbox to prevent unauthorized users from seeing the list of files. When done, click OK in both windows.

#2: How to Password Lock a RAR File from Inside WinRAR?

This method is much faster when you already have the WinRAR application open.

  1. Select the files you want to protect inside WinRAR then click Add button.
  2. Give your new archive a name then click Set password.
  3. Enter your preferred password in both boxes and tick Encrypt file names to hide the list.
  4. Confirm with OK twice.

#3: Encrypt RAR File with Password Using Command Prompt

The following solution is suitable for users who prefer working with commands.

  1. Open Command Prompt from the Start menu.
  2. Run “C:\Program Files\WinRAR\Rar.exe” a -p myfiles.rar C:\MyFolder and swap in your own paths.
  3. WinRAR will ask you to enter a password, type it in the field provided and confirm it.
  4. If you want to hide file names as well, change -p to -hp in the command above.

How to Add Password to a RAR File on Mac?

Mac’s built-in Finder cannot create RAR files. You need to use RARLAB’s official RAR for macOS tool in Terminal.

Protect RAR File with Password Using Terminal

All you need to do is execute one simple command.

  1. First you need to download RAR for macOS from RARLAB’s official website then unpack it.
  2. Now open Terminal and use cd to enter the unpacked rar folder.
  3. Next execute this command: ./rar a -p myfiles.rar myfolder.
  4. A prompt asking for the password will appear. Type the password at the prompt then confirm it.
  5. You can replace -p with -hp to hide file names as well.

How to Choose a Strong Password?

A weak password ruins all your hard work so choose a strong one.

  • The security of your encrypted files depends on the strength and length of the password so use 12 or more characters because each extra one makes guessing harder.
  • You can also add numbers and symbols to avoid easy patterns.
  • Make sure you avoid pet names and birth years as it would be easy for others to guess them.
  • Store your password in a password manager so you never lose track of it.

How to Remove the Password From a RAR File?

Now you already know how to password protect a RAR file and the process of removing the password is the reverse. All you have to do is extract the files with the password then pack them into a new RAR file without the password.

On Windows

WinRAR handles both sides of the task.

  1. Open the encrypted RAR file and click Extract To. After that enter the password in the box that appears then choose a folder.
  2. Now select the extracted files, choose Add to archive and click OK without adding a password.

On Mac

The Terminal does the same job for you.

  1. Unpack the files of the encrypted file with ./rar x myfiles.rar then type the password when prompted.
  2. Run ./rar a newfiles.rar by the names of the unpacked files.

What If You Can’t Remember Your RAR File Password?

RAR files do not allow resetting the password. So start with these checks.

  • Contact whoever sent the file because they may still have the password.
  • Try your usual passwords as well as those you used in the past.
  • Look through any notes you may have saved passwords in, as well as emails or password manager.

Use Specialized Software to Find a Lost RAR Password

When those tips do not bring positive result then you must use a dedicated professional tool. A dedicated tool regains the lost password easily. You do not need to have any technical knowledge. The SysTools RAR Password Recovery Tool is a good choice for you. It runs on both Windows and Mac. First, download it on your PC.