Tips to open RA file
Can't open the RA file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open RA files as well as a list of programs that support RA files.
RA file extension
| File Name |
Real Audio Format |
| File Developer |
RealNetworks |
| File Category |
Audio Files |
The RA file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the RA files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the RA file on each system platform.
What is RA file?
The file in the RA format belongs to the Audio Files category. The author of this format is RealNetworks. In addition to this file, the Audio Files category includes 771 related files. Real Audio Format is supported by 3 operating systems. The file will work on Linux, Mac OS, Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. The RealPlayer application is recommended to open the file. It was released by RealNetworks, Inc.. There are also 14 alternative programs to handle the RA file. VLC media player, J. River Media Center, KMPlayer, jetAudio will apply when it is not possible to use RealPlayer.
How to open RA file?
The most common problem when using Real Audio Format is that a specific RA is not associated with the program. Thus, when you open RA, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. This problem can be easily remedied.
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the RA file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.
Step 1. Install RealPlayer
An often overlooked issue is to make sure that RealPlayer is installed on the computer. This can be achieved by typing RealPlayer into the operating system search engine. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Below you will find a list of applications that support RA files.
Programs to open RA file
Remember to download programs supporting RA files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of RealPlayer with RA files
If, despite the installed application, the RA file does not start in the RealPlayer application, you must create a file association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. However, it is important to check the "Always use the selected program ..." box, this will allow you to permanently associate the RA file with the RealPlayer application.
Step 3. Update RealPlayer to the latest version
If, however, after binding RealPlayer with Real Audio Format there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the RealNetworks, Inc. website and install the latest version.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the RA file
If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:
The RA file may be unusually small compared to the original file. This suggests truncating the RA file contents when downloading or copying. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file RA or the program directory. However, remember that not every infected RA file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the RA files changes over time. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for this. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged RA files. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact RealNetworks
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted RA files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. Copying the RA file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem usually affects more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Closing other programs should help. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file RA to close. However, some background programs may block the RA file while scanning. If nothing helps, please reset the device.
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