[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"extension:v3:en:aar":3},{"resolvedFromAlias":4,"canonicalExt":5,"ext":5,"name":6,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"updatedAt":9,"popularity":10,"summary":11,"howToOs":12,"quickAnswer":18,"answerIntro":19,"whatIs":20,"description":21,"furtherReading":22,"openInstructions":41,"commonIssues":55,"securityNotes":74,"faq":78,"aliases":88,"mimeTypes":89,"relatedExtensions":90,"breadcrumbs":137,"categoryAnchor":147,"categoryFuturePath":148,"metaDescription":149,"availableHowToOs":150,"openOnDeviceLinks":151,"cannotOpenReasons":167,"cannotOpenFixes":168,"convertOptions":169,"securityAffiliateMessaging":170,"securityAffiliates":171},false,"aar","Android Archive (AAR) library package","archives","Archives","2026-06-12T09:15:17.993Z",45,".aar is an Android library package used by Android/Gradle builds. It is a ZIP-based archive that can include compiled code (classes.jar), resources (res/), and an AndroidManifest.xml.",[13,14,15,16,17],"windows","mac","linux","ios","android","To open .AAR files on Windows, if you only need to inspect it: make a copy, rename the file from .aar to .zip, then open it with File Explorer’s ZIP support to view/extract contents like AndroidManifest.xml, classes.jar, and res/.","To open a .aar file, treat it like a ZIP archive: rename it to .zip or open it with an archive tool to inspect its contents. If you need to use it as a dependency, import it in an Android/Gradle project rather than “running” it.","An Android Archive (AAR) is the standard packaging format for Android libraries. Android’s documentation describes it as a ZIP file with required/optional entries such as AndroidManifest.xml, classes.jar, res/, and R.txt. Unlike a plain JAR, an AAR can carry Android resources and manifest information in addition to Java/Kotlin bytecode.","AAR is used to distribute reusable Android library modules, commonly consumed by Gradle builds (often via Maven repositories) rather than opened directly by end users. The format exists to bundle not only compiled classes but also Android-specific assets like resources and manifest entries so that apps can merge them at build time.",[23,26,29,32,35,38],{"title":24,"url":25},"Create an Android library (AAR contents and structure) | Android Developers","https://developer.android.com/studio/projects/android-library?hl=en",{"title":27,"url":28},"JAR (file format) | Wikipedia","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JAR_%28file_format%29",{"title":30,"url":31},"Media Types | IANA (official media type registry)","https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/media-types.xhtml",{"title":33,"url":34},"shared-mime-info (freedesktop.org project page)","https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/shared-mime-info/",{"title":36,"url":37},"Shared MIME-info Database Specification (how filename globs/MIME mappings work)","https://apol.pages.freedesktop.org/xdg-specs/shared-mime-info-spec/shared-mime-info-spec-latest.html",{"title":39,"url":40},"shared-mime-info database source (freedesktop.org.xml.in)","https://cgit.freedesktop.org/xdg/shared-mime-info/tree/data/freedesktop.org.xml.in",{"windows":42,"macos":45,"linux":48,"ios":51,"android":53},[43,44],"If you only need to inspect it: make a copy, rename the file from .aar to .zip, then open it with File Explorer’s ZIP support to view/extract contents like AndroidManifest.xml, classes.jar, and res/.","If you need to use it in a project: add it as a library dependency in an Android Studio/Gradle project (AARs are meant to be consumed by the Android build system, not executed).",[46,47],"For inspection: rename .aar to .zip and open it with Archive Utility (double-click) or another ZIP-capable archiver to browse/extract files inside.","For development use: include the AAR as a dependency in an Android project; it is not an app installer and won’t open like a normal macOS document.",[49,50],"For inspection: open it as a ZIP archive with your desktop archive manager or rename .aar to .zip and extract; look for AndroidManifest.xml, classes.jar, and res/.","For development use: add it to an Android/Gradle build as a dependency rather than trying to “run” it.",[52],"iOS does not use AAR libraries directly; transfer the file to a desktop machine to inspect it as a ZIP or use it within an Android/Gradle workflow.",[54],"Android typically won’t “open” AARs as apps; to inspect contents, move it to a desktop and open it as a ZIP, or use it only as a library dependency in an Android development environment.",[56,62,68],{"title":57,"description":58,"steps":59},"It won’t open (or opens in the wrong app)","Many systems don’t associate .aar with a viewer. An AAR is a ZIP-based library package, not a document or installer, so double-click behavior is inconsistent.",[60,61],"Make a copy of the file and rename the extension from .aar to .zip.","Open/extract it using any ZIP-capable archive tool, then inspect files like AndroidManifest.xml, classes.jar, and res/.",{"title":63,"description":64,"steps":65},"Expecting an app installer or executable","AAR is a library distribution format for Android builds; it is not an APK and cannot be installed or launched on a device.",[66,67],"If you need to install something on Android, you likely need an .apk, not an .aar.","If you are developing, add the AAR as a dependency in your Android Studio/Gradle project per Android’s library documentation.",{"title":69,"description":70,"steps":71},"The file looks like a ZIP but tools complain it is corrupted","Because AAR is a ZIP container, partial downloads or modifications can break the archive structure and cause extraction errors.",[72,73],"Re-download or re-copy the AAR to ensure the transfer completed successfully.","Try extracting with a different ZIP tool; if multiple tools fail, the archive is likely damaged.",[75,76,77],"An AAR is a ZIP-based archive and can bundle compiled code (for example, classes.jar). Treat AARs from untrusted sources like any third-party library: using them in a build can introduce untrusted code into your app.","Because it is an archive, extracting an AAR can create many files and directories; inspect the contents (for example, AndroidManifest.xml and packaged resources) before integrating it into a project.","If you rename .aar to .zip for inspection, keep the original file intact and work on a copy to avoid accidental edits that could change what gets built.",[79,82,85],{"question":80,"answer":81},"Is an AAR just a ZIP file?","Yes. Android’s documentation describes an AAR as a ZIP file with a defined set of entries such as AndroidManifest.xml, classes.jar, and res/.",{"question":83,"answer":84},"How is AAR different from JAR?","A JAR primarily packages Java classes and metadata, while an AAR is designed for Android libraries and can also include Android resources and a manifest to be merged during an Android build.",{"question":86,"answer":87},"Is there an official IANA media type for .aar?","If you need an authoritative answer, check the IANA Media Types registry; it is the source of truth for officially registered media types.",[],[],[91,97,103,109,115,121,127,132],{"ext":92,"name":93,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":94,"summary":95,"howToOs":96},"zip","ZIP Archive",93,"ZIP archives are widely used to compress and bundle multiple files or folders for easier storage and sharing.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":98,"name":99,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":100,"summary":101,"howToOs":102},"rar","RAR Archive",66,".rar files are compressed archive containers used to bundle and compress one or more files, often including split (multi-part) archives. They’re commonly opened by WinRAR and can usually be extracted by tools like 7-Zip and The Unarchiver.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":104,"name":105,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":106,"summary":107,"howToOs":108},"bz2","bzip2 Compressed File",65,".bz2 is a bzip2-compressed file, typically used to shrink a single file for storage or download. To use the contents, you usually decompress it with an extractor such as 7-Zip or the bzip2 command-line tool.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":110,"name":111,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":112,"summary":113,"howToOs":114},"7z","7-Zip Archive",64,"A .7z file is a 7-Zip compressed archive, commonly used to bundle and compress files with high compression ratios. Open it with 7-Zip on Windows or compatible archive tools such as WinRAR, Keka, The Unarchiver, p7zip, ZArchiver, or RAR.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":116,"name":117,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":118,"summary":119,"howToOs":120},"gz","Gzip Compressed File",57,"GZ files are compressed using the gzip algorithm, commonly used for reducing file size and bundling files with TAR.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":122,"name":123,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":124,"summary":125,"howToOs":126},"br","Brotli-compressed data",55,".br files contain data compressed with the Brotli algorithm, commonly used for web delivery. You open them by decompressing with Brotli tools or compatible archivers, then opening the extracted original file.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":128,"name":129,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":124,"summary":130,"howToOs":131},"crx","Chrome/Chromium Extension Package (CRX)",".crx is the packaged format used to distribute Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browser extensions. It is essentially a signed wrapper around a ZIP archive containing the extension’s files.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":133,"name":134,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":124,"summary":135,"howToOs":136},"ipa","iOS/iPadOS App Store Package (IPA)",".ipa is the package format for iOS/iPadOS apps. It is essentially a ZIP archive that contains an app bundle (typically under Payload/*.app) and related metadata used for installation and distribution.",[13,14,15,16,17],[138,141,144],{"label":139,"to":140},"Home","/",{"label":142,"to":143},"File Extension Index","/file-extension",{"label":145,"to":146},".AAR","/file-extension/aar","category-archives","/category/archives","Learn what .AAR files are, how to open them on every platform, common fixes, and security best practices.",[13,14,15,16,17],[152,155,158,161,164],{"os":13,"label":153,"to":154},"Open .AAR on Windows","/how-to/open-aar-on-windows",{"os":14,"label":156,"to":157},"Open .AAR on Mac","/how-to/open-aar-on-mac",{"os":15,"label":159,"to":160},"Open .AAR on Linux","/how-to/open-aar-on-linux",{"os":16,"label":162,"to":163},"Open .AAR on iOS","/how-to/open-aar-on-ios",{"os":17,"label":165,"to":166},"Open .AAR on Android","/how-to/open-aar-on-android",[57,63,69],[60,61],[],"archive",[172,176],{"name":173,"description":174,"affiliateUrl":175},"Avast","Avast offers free and premium antivirus software that protects against viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing. Scan files before opening them to ensure safety.","https://www.avast.com/lp-aff-consumer-store?expid=inf601",{"name":177,"description":178,"affiliateUrl":179},"Norton","Norton 360 delivers comprehensive antivirus protection, VPN, and identity theft monitoring. Scan files for threats before opening to keep your device secure.","http://buy.norton.com/aff_home?utm_campaign=en-ww_nor_n36_aff_nas_nau_nah_cj_nad_low:_sec_nat_mktc_norton_360"]