A few days ago, Microsoft announced that the next Windows 11 update, in addition to the integration of Artificial Intelligence through Copilot, will also add native support for RAR files. Let’s remember that Windows 10 already included support for the ZIP compression format, so, in this way, Microsoft expands the number of native options to compress and decompress files. But what about WinRAR?
The WinRAR application is available for download completely free of charge through its website with a trial period of 40 days. After this time, it would be logical to think that the application would stop being usable, but it is not. We can continue using the application without any type of limitation, with the only inconvenience of having to click on the message that is displayed every time we open it and that invites us to buy a license. After Microsoft’s announcement, WinRAR posted on Twitter the following image that gives, more or less to understand, what is his thought on the matter.
Us right now. #Windows11 https://t.co/t8WnXaWyZa
May 30, 2023 • 12:30 PM
After this publication, many were the users who decided to buy the corresponding license so that this German company, with more than 20 years in the market, does not end up disappearing. WinRAR is one of the first applications that many users install as soon as they install Windows to compress and decompress files quickly and easily thanks to a slick user interface that invites us to get the most out of it.
During the announcement, Microsoft did not go into details, only announcing native support for RAR files and others like 7z. Most likely, the integration with this archive format will be exactly the same as it currently offers with WinZip, integrating via right-click and without any user interface to be able, for example, to establish a password to protect the document, create different volumes or use other different compression algorithms, so if we want to continue taking full advantage of WinRAR we will have to continue using the application.
The reason that has probably invited Microsoft to add native support to RAR files is that it is used by more than 500 million users worldwide, being one of the most popular, just like ZIP. This integration is not bad news for the company since the compression algorithm is not open sourceso Microsoft has to pay the company to implement it natively, that is, WinRAR will not see its main and only business model affected.
If we take into account the latest news related to Windows 11, what is clear is that the next big update that will be released in a few months, will include a large number of features that are highly anticipated by users for a long time and have never been seen before. seen reflected in earlier versions of Microsoft’s operating system.
