PAR2 File

What are PAR2 files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a PAR2 file or just wondering what they contain? We explain what these files are used for and show you software that we know can open or otherwise handle your files.

What is a PAR2 file?

A .PAR2 file is a Parity Archive Volume Set file.

Files that contain the .par2 file extension are Parity Archive volume files. PAR2 files are created by the Parchive file archiving software when a user creates a backup of the information on their hard drive.

PAR2 files are used for data archive recovery purposes. When a volume in a multi-part archive is lost, the .par2 file can recover the missing data.

The .par file extension is the file extension given to the files created with the first version of the Parchive software. The .par2 file extension is assigned to the files created with the second generation of the software.

How to open PAR2 files

We have identified two PAR2 openers that are compatible with this specific type of PAR2 file.

Programs that open Parity Archive Volume Set files

Last updated: February 24, 2023

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of PAR2 files. Remember, different programs may use PAR2 files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about PAR2 file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.