Quick start: extracting files from the command line

Common command line syntax to extract files with full paths:

WinRAR X [ -switches ] <Archive> [ Files ] [ @File lists ] [ Destination folder\ ]

To extract files, ignoring paths:

WinRAR E [ -switches ] <Archive> [ Files ] [ @File lists ] [ Destination folder\ ]

For example if you wish extract the file LETTER.TXT to the current folder from the archive LETTERS.RAR, use the following command:

WinRAR X LETTERS.RAR LETTER.TXT

Archive extension is optional and may be omitted.

The next command extracts all *.WAV files from the archive Songs to the folder Audio:

WinRAR X Songs *.WAV Audio\

It is also possible to list the files to be extracted in a file, rather than listing them on the command line. In this case the name of the file, containing the list of files to be archived, must be given on the command line. This is indicated by placing the symbol @ before this file name. Thus, if you create a file, Binaries, containing the strings *.exe and *.com, execute the command:

WinRAR X TOOLS @Binaries

all files with EXE and COM extensions from the archive TOOLS will be extracted to the current folder.

During the extraction process, a window containing statistics, will be displayed. If you wish to break the extraction process, click on the Cancel button in the command window. You may press the "Background" button in this window to minimize WinRAR to the tray. If extraction is completed, without problems, WinRAR will terminate, in the case of an error, a Diagnostic message window will be displayed.

See Command-line interface for detailed commands and switches description.