0
0
A file with the XAR extension is usually associated with the Extensible Archive format.
macOS uses these XAR file types for software installation (replacing the need for the GZ archive format). Safari extensions also use the same XAR file format.
Microsoft Excel uses the XAR file format to save documents as part of the AutoRecover feature. Whichever Excel file type is actively used, all open files are periodically and automatically saved to the default location with the .XAR extension.
XAR files are also used as the default file format in Xara graphic design software.
How to open an XAR file
XAR files, which are compressed archive files, can be opened with popular compression / decompression programs. My two favorites are 7-Zip and PeaZip, but there are plenty more to choose from. For example, with 7-Zip, you can right-click an XAR file and select 7-Zip > Open Archive to open it.
If the XAR file is a Safari browser extension file, it likely has the .safariextz extension appended because that is what the browser uses to identify such extensions. To use a XAR file as a browser extension, you need to rename it first and then open the .safariextz file to install it in Safari.
However, since the .safariextz file is actually a renamed XAR file, you can open it with one of the decompression programs mentioned above to see its contents. Keep in mind, however, that opening this type of file in a program like 7-Zip won’t let you use the extension as intended, but you will see the different files which make up the browser extension software.
Xara products can open XAR files that are intended for use in these graphics programs.
How to open XAR Excel files
By default, as part of the AutoRecover feature, Microsoft Excel automatically saves open files every 10 minutes in the event of a power failure or other unexpected shutdown of Excel.
However, instead of saving the document in the format you edit it and the location where you saved it, Excel uses the XAR file extension in the following folder:
C: Users
The
One example of a XAR file that Excel can create is ~ ar3EE9.xar. As you can see, the XAR file has a random name, so it can be difficult to find it. The file is also hidden and can be considered a protected system file.
To recover an Excel file that was automatically saved, search for all .XAR files on your computer (using the built-in search function or a free tool like All) or open the default location I showed above to find XAR files manually.
Finding the autosaved Excel document in the above location requires you to browse the operating system hidden and protected files. See: How to show hidden files and folders in Windows? if you need help with this.
Once you find your XAR file, you need to change the file extension to one that Excel recognizes, such as XLSX or XLS. Once done, you should be able to open the file in Excel just like any other.
If renaming the XAR file does not work, you can try to open the XAR file in Excel directly with the Open and Repair option next to Create while browsing your computer for the XAR file.
For this you need to make sure that you have selected the All Files in advance the Create button.
How to convert a XAR file
If your XAR file is in an archive format, you can convert it to other similar formats like ZIP, 7Z, GZ, TAR and BZ2 with FileZigZag free online file converter.
As I mentioned above, the best way to convert an XAR file that has been automatically saved in Excel is to simply change the file extension to one that Excel recognizes. If after saving the final file as XLSX or any other Excel format you want to convert this file to another format, just connect it to the free document file converter.
Converting the XAR file used by a Xara product is probably best done with a program that uses it. This can be found in something like fillet > Save As option or in export menu.
