There are 9 other file types using
the ARC file extension!

empty icon.arc - Cabela's African Safari game data

empty icon.arc - I-DEAS archive

empty icon.arc - Accelrys/MSI Biosym/Insight II CAR chemistry data

arc icon.arc - Nokia backup archive

arc icon.arc - Norton backup archive

empty icon.arc - Nintendo archive

arc icon.arc - Orgadata LogiKal file

empty icon.arc - FreeArc compressed archive

empty icon.arc - Avalanche Studios game archive

ARC file extension - ARC lossless data compression and archive format

What is arc file? How to open arc files?

File type specification:

Archive and compressed file type icon Archive and compressed file type

File extension arc is mainly related to ARC, a lossless data compression and archival format created by System Enhancement Associated (SAE).

It was very popular format during the early days of networked Bulletin Board System (BBS).

The ARC format made obsolete the use of combinations of the SQ program to compress files and the LU program to create the LBR archives by combining the functions of both compression and archiving into single program.

There are several extension variants of this format. Beside arc, there is also ark and sue format This archive file format was also used by PKARC, QUARK and SQUASH.

It is likely that many programs used this format to pack their files, either for backup or file archiving purpose.

Note: There is a program called FreeArc that also uses arc extension for its archives. It is a different format.

Updated: November 20, 2023

The default software associated to open arc file:

IZArc icon

Ivan Zahariev logoIZArc  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Ivan Zahariev

IZArc is free compression utility for Microsoft Windows. IZArc supports variety of archive formats such as 7-zip, ARJ, ZIP, RAR, CAB, ACE, PAK etc. Also supports popular CD/DVD images such as ISO, BIN, NRG, IMG, MDF etc. IZArc also can convert archives and CD/DVD images. IZARC can repair damaged archives, creates self-extract archivers. IZArc is translate to many languages.

Help how to open:

Many file compression utiltiies nowadays support the original ARC format.

How to convert:

As this format is well supported, you may freely repack .arc archives to other compressed archives, including the common RAR, ZIP or 7zip archives.

Find conversions from arc file:

arc to pdf

arc to rar

arc to vcard

arc to vcf

arc to vmg

arc to xls

arc to zip

Find converter to arc file type:

7z to arc

ark to arc

cab to arc

ize to arc

pea to arc

zip to arc

List of software applications associated to the .arc file extension

Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open arc file, edit arc file, convert arc file, view arc file, play arc file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).

Hint:
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting arc files.

Software that open arc file - ARC lossless data compression and archive format

Programs supporting the exension arc on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for open arc file action.

Microsoft Windows:

Main software associated with arc file by default:
IZArc small icon IZArc
Other suggested software:
ALZip small icon ALZip
PeaZip small icon PeaZip
FreeArc small icon FreeArc

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