Complete Guide to Convert ARJ File to MP4 Format on Windows and Mac

Ever wondered how to convert an ARJ file to MP4 without the usual tech headache? The ARJ format may feel like a relic from the floppy-disk days, but it still hides valuable videos, audios, and documents from older archives. The challenge lies in unlocking and modernizing those treasures so they can play seamlessly on devices. In this guide, you will discover what ARJ files are, how to open them on Windows or Mac, and the smartest way to turn their contents into MP4 or audio formats using a professional tool, giving your vintage files a brand-new life.

Part 1. What is ARJ Format?

ARJ stands for Archived by Robert Jung. It is an archiving format and an early classic in file compression. It became very popular in the 1990s. The format made it possible to compress several files into one archive, saving and minimizing storage space for file transfers. This was especially useful for transfers over disks and early networks.

For its time, the ARJ format was advanced because:

1. High Compression Ratio: ARJ compresses file sizes efficiently, which helps users save disk space.

2. Multi-Volume Support: Large ARJ archives can be split into smaller parts, which can be stored across multiple storage devices.

3. Security Features: Users can protect ARJ archives with passwords, which provide additional privacy.

4. Error Recovery Options: Recovery records are part of the format, which helps retrieve and restore data if an archive is damaged or corrupted.

5. Broad File Compatibility: ARJ archives can be constructed with virtually any file type, including documents, media files, and applications.

Even with newer formats like ZIP and RAR, ARJ is still relevant for users who need to retrieve archived data from unsophisticated software or older systems.

Part 2. How to Open ARJ Files

Because modern computers do not support ARJ files by default, you'll need a third-party extraction tool to open or access the contents of ARJ files. There are free and reliable programs that do this nicely and quickly for both Windows and Mac, making it as easy as converting FLAC to ALAC for audio files.

Follow the steps below to extract ARJ files in a short period of time.

On Windows:

Step 1Find 7-Zip, which is a reliable free file extraction utility and download it.

Step 2Open 7-Zip, then find the folder that has the ARJ file.

Step 3Select the ARJ file and then click the Extract button located on the top menu, and wait for the extraction options to come up.

Step 4Select the folder you are going to extract the contents to and click OK to finish the process.

Step 5After the extraction is finished, open the folder you selected to view the files you unpacked and access them.

On Mac:

Step 1Go to theunarchiver.com and download The Unarchiver. It is a lightweight and effective extraction tool for macOS.

Step 2Install and run The Unarchiver on your Mac.

Step 3Find your ARJ file, right-click on it and select Open With > The Unarchiver.

Step 4The application will automatically extract the contents into a new folder that will be saved in the same directory.

Step 5Upon completion, open the output folder to view, manage, and convert your unpacked files as necessary.

Part 3. How to Convert ARJ to MP4 or Audio Format

Once you unpack your ARJ archive and remove your media files, the next step will be to convert the files into a playable format like MP4 or MP3. AVAide Video Converter comes highly recommended. It is a professional, user-friendly media file converter ideal for novices and seasoned users alike. It supports a vari

AVAide Video Converter

AVAide Video Converter offers a complete media toolbox that allows you to convert, change, and improve your video and audio files. No matter the condition of your media files, be it old or newly extracted clips from the ARJ archive, it will streamline the conversion process and improve the quality. The program comes with a sleek interface, thus making it easy to perform fast conversions using hardware acceleration without losing quality.

Step 1Download and Install AVAide Video Converter

To install the program on your computer, go to the AVAide official website and download the program for Windows or Mac, and follow the on-screen instructions for installation.

Step 2Launch the Program and Open Files

Start AVAide Video Converter. On the main interface, click Add Files, then find and choose the video or audio files that you want to import that you extracted from the ARJ archive. If you want to import multiple files for conversion, you can do that at the same time.

Step 3Set Output Format

To do this, click Output Format. Then, under the Video tab, choose MP4 for your output format.

Step 4Set Output Parameters (If Necessary)

You can do this by clicking the Edit button. Here you can change video resolution, bitrate, and audio bitrate, and even enhance the video to 1080p, 4K or 8K.

Step 5Begin the Conversion

To do this, click the Convert All button, located at the bottom-right corner. AVAide Video Converter will convert your files at incredible speed, up to 120× faster using hardware acceleration, which will be ready in just a few moments.

Step 6Review the Converted Files

Once finished, the program will open the directory where your new MP4 or audio files are located. You may preview, further edit, or share the files on any device without the hassle of compatibility issues, just like when you convert WMA to MP4.

By Ben Carter on Oct 24, 2025