How to Recover RAR File Password Without Data Loss?

Forgot your RAR file password? Don't worry — RAR password recovery can help you unlock your archived files safely and quickly. Whether you lost the password or inherited a protected file, there are effective tools and methods available to retrieve access without damaging your data. In this guide, we'll explore the best and safest ways to perform RAR password recovery, from free software solutions to advanced recovery techniques suitable for all users. Let's begin!

Part 1. Best and Safe RAR Password Recovery Tool: TunesKit File Password Recovery

TunesKit File Password Recovery is a comprehensive tool designed to recover lost or forgotten passwords for various file types, including RAR/ZIP archives. It operates on a simple premise: using advanced algorithms and multiple attack methods to systematically find the correct password and unlock your file.

The software is built to be user-friendly, guiding you through the process without requiring deep technical knowledge. Its main strength lies in its three distinct recovery modes, which allow you to tailor the attack based on anything you might remember about the password. This targeted approach can significantly speed up the recovery process, which can otherwise take a very long time.

Here are the detailed steps for RAR password recovery using TunesKit File Password Recovery.

Step 1Install and Launch

First, download and install the TunesKit File Password Recovery software on your computer. Launch the program to see the main interface.

Step 2Load the RAR File

On the main screen, you will see options for different file types. Select the RAR/ZIP option. This will open a new window. Click the "Add" or "+" button (or simply drag and drop) to load your password-protected RAR file into the program.

Step 3Choose Your Attack Mode

Once the file is loaded, the program will present you with three recovery methods. Your choice here is critical and depends entirely on what you know (or don't know) about the password.

Understanding and Using the 3 Attack Modes

You should select one of the following three options to start the recovery.

1. Dictionary Attack

Step 4(Optional) Select Dictionary Attack

The program will give you an option to use its default dictionary or to load your own. If you have a .txt file containing a list of passwords you commonly use, or a custom dictionary file you've downloaded, this is the place to load it. After selecting your dictionary, click "Start Recover" to begin.

2. Combination Attack

Step 4(Optional) Combination Attack

You will be presented with settings to configure.

• Character Sets: Specify the types of characters the password contains (e.g., check boxes for lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers, or special symbols).
• Affixes: You can often provide a "prefix" (known characters at the beginning) or a "suffix" (known characters at the end).
• Password Length: Define the minimum and maximum possible length of the password. After setting these parameters, click "Start." The tool will only try combinations that fit your rules.

Step 4(Optional) Brute Force Attack

Select Brute Force Attack. You may be given options to select which character sets to include (e.g., all letters, all numbers, all symbols) and to set a password length range. For unknown passwords, you would typically select all character sets and a wide length range. Be aware that this process can take hours, days, or even weeks depending on the password's complexity. Click "Start" to begin the process.

Step 5Recover the Password

After you click "Start Recovery" in any of the modes, the software will begin the recovery process. A progress bar will show how far along it is. If a password is found, the tool will display it in a pop-up window. You can then copy the password and use it to open your RAR file.

Part 2. Other Common Methods to Recover Your RAR File Password

Method 1: Using online tools

LostMyPass is an online tool designed to help users recover lost or forgotten passwords for different types of files, including WinRAR archives. It employs advanced recovery techniques such as dictionary, mask, and brute-force attacks to retrieve the password and unlock the file.

Here's how to open a password-protected RAR file using LostMyPass.

Step 1. Go to the LostMyPass website and upload your password-protected WinRAR file.

Step 2. Wait while the service attempts to recover your password using advanced methods such as dictionary, mask, or brute-force attacks. You can track the progress on the website or via email notifications.

Step 3. Once the password is successfully recovered, LostMyPass will provide it to you so you can unlock and access your RAR file.

Method 2: Using Notepad

Notepad is a simple text editor available on most computers. While it’s not a guaranteed solution, some users attempt to use it to recover RAR file passwords—particularly if the password contains only numbers. This method is experimental and may not always be effective, but it can be worth trying if you have no other recovery options.

Steps to Try Unlocking a RAR File with Notepad

Step 1. Locate the encrypted RAR file on your computer. Right-click it, select "Open with", and choose Notepad from the list of programs.

Step 2. After the file opens in Notepad, go to the "Edit" menu and select "Replace." In the "Find what" field, type Ûtà (without quotes), and in the "Replace with" field, type ⁵³tà' (without quotes). Then, click "Replace All."

Step 3. Repeat the replacement process by entering "IžCO" in both the "Find what" and "Replace with" fields (without quotes). Then, click "Replace All" once more.

Step 4. After completing all replacements, save the edited file. Go to "File" > "Save As," choose "All Files" from the "Save as type" dropdown, and name the file with a .bat extension — for example, unlock_rar.bat.

Using Notepad to attempt password recovery can sometimes work if the RAR password consists solely of numbers. However, this approach is not guaranteed to succeed and is generally ineffective for files protected with complex passwords or advanced encryption methods.

Method 3: Using CMD

For users comfortable working with the command prompt (CMD) on Windows, a utility named cRARK offers a command-line approach. It is a brute-force tool designed to crack RAR file passwords by testing combinations based on rules you define.

Step 1. Download the cRARK program from its official source.

Step 2. After downloading, extract the files into a new folder on your computer. Inside this folder, locate the file named password.def and open it with Notepad.

Step 3. This password.def file is your configuration file. It tells cRARK what password rules to test.

• Lines starting with ## are "comments," meaning they are inactive.
• To activate a rule, such as testing for lowercase letters or numbers, remove the ## from the beginning of that line.
• If you know a part of the password, you can edit a line to include that specific part to narrow the search.
• After making your changes, save and close the password.def file.

Step 4. Copy your locked RAR file and paste it into the same folder where you extracted the cRARK program files.

Step 5. Open a Command Prompt window in that specific folder.

Step 6. In the Command Prompt, type the following command, replacing your-file.rar with the exact name of your RAR file: crark your-file.rar

Step 7. Press Enter to begin. cRARK will start the password attack based on the rules you set in the password.def file. Be patient, as this process can take a very long time (hours, days, or even longer) depending on the password's complexity.

Part 3. Conclusion

Recovering a forgotten RAR password can be tricky, but reliable tools make it easier. While methods like Notepad, CMD commands, or online services may help, they're often limited or risky. TunesKit File Password Recovery offers a faster, safer, and more effective solution with advanced recovery modes and strong decryption power, making it the best choice for unlocking RAR files securely and efficiently.