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How to open .AAR files on Windows

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/.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. 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/.
  2. 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).

Common issues

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.

  1. Make a copy of the file and rename the extension from .aar to .zip.
  2. Open/extract it using any ZIP-capable archive tool, then inspect files like AndroidManifest.xml, classes.jar, and res/.

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.

  1. If you need to install something on Android, you likely need an .apk, not an .aar.
  2. If you are developing, add the AAR as a dependency in your Android Studio/Gradle project per Android’s library documentation.

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.

  1. Re-download or re-copy the AAR to ensure the transfer completed successfully.
  2. Try extracting with a different ZIP tool; if multiple tools fail, the archive is likely damaged.

Security note

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.

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