Windows 11 soon with native RAR support: the end of Winrar?

La compatibilidad nativa con formatos de archivo populares como ZIP y otros formatos de archivo ha sido una característica estándar en Windows durante algún tiempo. Si Microsoft agregara soporte nativo para archivos RAR en Windows 11 o una versión futura, podría reducir la necesidad de aplicaciones de terceros como WinRAR para tareas básicas de administración de archivos RAR, como extraer archivos de archivos RAR.

It is important to note that even if native RAR support were added to Windows, it would not necessarily mean the end of WinRAR or similar third-party applications. Many users rely on third-party archiving software for advanced features and additional functionality that may not be available in the built-in Windows tools.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information on Windows 11 features and any potential changes related to RAR support, I recommend consulting the official Microsoft website or other reliable sources for news and updates on Windows developments beyond my last knowledge update in September. 2021.

Windows 11 is expected to be released later this year and one of the features that has caught the attention of many users is native support for RAR files. This means that Windows 11 will be able to open, extract and create RAR archives without the need for third-party software. But what does this mean for Winrar, the popular tool that has been the preferred choice of many users for decades?

Winrar is an archive compression and encryption software that was first released in 1995. It supports a variety of formats, including ZIP, 7Z, GZIP, TAR and, of course, RAR. Winrar is known for its high compression ratio, security features and ease of use. It also has a loyal fan base that has been using it for years.

However, Winrar is not freeware. It is distributed as trial software, which means that users can download and use it for free for a limited period of time (usually 40 days). After that, users are supposed to purchase a license to continue using it. However, many users ignore this and continue to use Winrar without paying, as the software does not impose any restrictions or limitations after the trial period is over.

This has led to a situation where Winrar is widely used but not widely paid for. By some estimates, Winrar has over 500 million users worldwide, but only about 10% of them have purchased a license. This means that Winrar is losing a lot of potential revenue from its users.

With Windows 11 introducing native support for RAR, Winrar may face an even greater challenge. Users upgrading to Windows 11 may no longer see the need to install or use Winrar, as they can handle RAR files directly from the operating system. This could reduce the demand and popularity of Winrar and affect its profitability and sustainability.

Of course, Winrar still has some advantages over Windows 11’s native RAR support. For example, Winrar offers more options and features for creating and managing RAR archives, such as password protection, encryption, recovery logs, split volumes and more. Winrar also supports more formats than Windows 11, such as ZIPX, BZIP2, LZMA2 and more. In addition, Winrar is compatible with older versions of Windows, as well as other operating systems such as Linux and Mac OS.

Therefore, Winrar may not become completely obsolete or irrelevant after the release of Windows 11. However, it may have to adapt and innovate to remain competitive and relevant in the market. It may have to offer more value-added services or features to its users, or lower its price or change its business model to attract more paying customers. Alternatively, you may have to focus on niche markets or segments that still require or prefer Winrar over native Windows 11 RAR support.

In conclusion, Windows 11’s native RAR support may pose a serious threat to Winrar’s dominance and survival in the file compression and encryption market. However, Winrar still has some strengths and opportunities that it can leverage to maintain its position and reputation. It remains to be seen how Winrar will respond to this challenge and how users will react to this change.

This update aligns with Microsoft’s efforts to improve Windows’ built-in tools and features, making it easier to use and reducing reliance on third-party software for common tasks.

The integration of the open source libarchive project into Windows 11 is a positive step, as it can provide users with a robust and standardized archive system. Native support for popular archive formats such as RAR can eliminate the need for third-party tools such as WinRAR for basic archive management tasks, simplifying the user experience.

While this development may be welcomed by most Windows 11 users, it may in fact have an impact on developers of paid solutions such as WinRAR. These developers may need to adapt and innovate to remain competitive, possibly by offering additional features and functionality beyond what is offered by native Windows support.

It is worth noting that Microsoft generally releases updates to Insider builds first for testing and feedback before rolling them out to a broader user base. This approach allows Microsoft to fix any issues and ensure a smoother experience for all users once the update is widely available.

For the most up-to-date information and details about this Windows 11 update, it’s a good idea to follow Microsoft’s official announcements and stay informed about any new developments in the Windows ecosystem.