Local tool
Archive Inspector
Choose a RAR, ZIP, 7z, TAR or gzip file to see what it really is. The archive is parsed inside your browser, so the file never leaves your computer.
Select an archive to inspect
Nothing is uploaded. Reading happens on this page only.
What this inspector tells you
Most archive confusion comes from not knowing what a file actually is. A download named setup.rar may be a ZIP, a 7z, or an incomplete download with no valid header at all. This tool reads the signature bytes and header structures and reports the truth: real format, format generation (RAR4 versus RAR5), entry names, stored and compressed sizes, compression method, encryption flags, and whether the archive is one volume of a split set.
It deliberately stops there. Extraction and conversion need real decompression, which belongs in software on your machine — see RAR file extractors, opening RAR on Windows 11, or opening RAR on a Mac. If an online service promises in-browser extraction of every format, read our honest look at online archive tools first.
Privacy by design
There is no upload endpoint behind this page. The file input hands the browser a local reference, the bytes are parsed in JavaScript, and the results exist only in the tab until you reload. That is why the tool works offline and why we can state plainly that we never retain reader files — see the privacy policy.
Get an archive tool for your computer
Download the installer and start opening RAR, ZIP and 7z archives in a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. The inspector reads the file with the browser FileReader API and parses the archive headers in page memory. There is no upload, no server processing, and nothing is stored after you close or reload the page.
Does this extract my archive?
No. It reads archive metadata only: format, entry names, stored and compressed sizes, compression method, and whether entries are encrypted. To actually extract files you need archive software on your computer — see our extraction guides.
Why can't it list the files inside a 7z archive?
7z stores its file list in a compressed header, so the names cannot be read without decompressing the archive first. ZIP, RAR4, RAR5 and TAR store readable headers, so those list normally.
Why does it say the file list is unavailable for my RAR file?
RAR can encrypt its headers. When that option is used, even the file names are encrypted and cannot be read without the password. That is expected behavior, not an error.
Is there a file size limit?
The practical limit is your device memory, because the file is read locally. Very large archives take a moment to scan and the entry list is capped at 400 rows to keep the page responsive.