Troubleshooting
WinRAR Trial Expired: What the Notice Actually Means
Seeing a WinRAR reminder about an expired evaluation period doesn't mean the software is broken. Here's what the notice means and what your actual options are.
Get an archive tool for your computer
Download the installer and start opening RAR, ZIP and 7z archives in a few minutes.
What the notice means
WinRAR is distributed as an unlimited-time evaluation: after a 40-day trial period, it starts showing a reminder screen at launch asking you to purchase a license. This is not a bug, and it isn't your software failing — it's WinRAR being honest that you're using paid software without having paid for it. See WinRAR license for the full licensing model.
The software keeps working
Unlike many trial programs, WinRAR does not lock you out or disable features once the evaluation period ends. You can dismiss the reminder screen and continue to compress and extract archives. The reminder simply reappears at each launch. This is by design — RARLAB's business model relies on honesty rather than a technical block.
Your legal options
- Buy a license — the straightforward option if you rely on WinRAR regularly. See the official WinRAR site (external) for current licensing.
- Switch to a free tool — 7-Zip is free and open source and extracts RAR files and creates ZIP/7z archives; see WinRAR vs. 7-Zip for a comparison, or best RAR extractors for more options.
- Keep using the evaluation copy — technically permitted by WinRAR's own terms, though the reminder will keep appearing indefinitely.
If you'd rather not decide right now
There's no requirement to buy immediately or switch tools the moment the reminder appears. If you extract archives only occasionally, the evaluation copy will continue to work; if you use it heavily and want the reminder gone, that's when purchasing a license or moving to a free alternative like 7-Zip makes sense.
Download and try it yourself
Install the archive tool and apply the steps from this guide on your own files.
Frequently asked questions
Does WinRAR stop working after the trial period?
No. WinRAR keeps functioning fully after the evaluation period; it just shows a reminder screen asking you to buy a license.
Is it legal to keep using WinRAR after the trial expires?
Yes, under WinRAR's own evaluation terms, though you're expected to purchase a license if you continue using it, particularly for business use.
Is there a way to remove the WinRAR reminder without buying a license?
We don't cover that. Any tool claiming to bypass licensing is a security risk. The legitimate options are buying a license or switching to a free alternative like 7-Zip.
What's a good free alternative if I don't want to buy WinRAR?
7-Zip is free, open source, and extracts RAR files while natively creating ZIP and 7z archives. See [WinRAR vs. 7-Zip](/winrar-vs-7zip).
Related guides
- Archive Troubleshooting: Fix RAR and ZIP ErrorsMost archive problems fall into a handful of categories. Find your symptom below and jump straight to the fix.
- WinRAR Licensing ExplainedWinRAR is commercial software distributed under an evaluation model, not a free program, though it keeps working after the trial ends.
- WinRAR vs 7-ZipWinRAR and 7-Zip are the two archive tools people ask about most on Windows. Here is how they actually differ, feature by feature.
- Best RAR ExtractorsThere is no single 'best' RAR extractor for everyone. Here is what to judge them on, and how the common options compare across platforms.
WinRAR is a trademark of its respective owner. RareExplorer is an independent resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by RARLAB or win.rar GmbH. Read our editorial policy to see how this page was researched.