Open BAK files

  • Full name
    Backup Plus Backup Format
  • Developer
    N/A
  • Popularity
Have you encountered a problem with a BAK file? Don’t you know which program opens a file with this extension? You will find all the information you need about working with a BAK file here. In the further part of this page we have added a list of programs that should open your BAK file. It is enough you choose a proper application for your operating system, download and install it.

What is BAK file?

The extension BAK is used by numerous programs to mark their backup files.

More info

These files do not have a uniform format. The content depends entirely on the generating program. Any type of data may be included in the file.

Many programs use BAK files to back up an older version of a user-edited file. These files are usually only open with the program that created them.

The directory in which the file is located can provide an indication of which original file has the file and with which program it can be opened.

Exceptions are files in which the suffix BAK has been appended to the original end, e.g. textdatei.txt.bak. Then of course it suffices to remove the ending bak.

Programs which can open a BAK file

How to open file with BAK extension?

In order to open a file with BAK extension one of the following programs must be installed on user’s system. If a problem with opening BAK file occurred, it is highly possible that none of the listed programs is present on user’s system. Even if one or more said programs are installed, there may be issues related with given programs. In order to solve a problem with BAK files, follow the instructions below.
1
Install Original program or other program from the list

Most often resolving problems with opening BAK files is very simple. Just install an appropriate program that supports such files. All of the listed programs support BAK files, but may vary in offered function and purpose. Some programs may be capable only of viewing contents of BAK files or offer file conversion options, but may not be capable of editing such files.

Set Original program as the default program for opening BAK files

It is possible that although a compatible program has been installed on user’s system, it is not used by the system to open it. This may happen because no default application was associated with this type of files. To associate BAK files with given application, select "Open with" from drop-down menu (accessed by right-clicking on the file). Then select from the list the program or application you want to be used to open this type of file. If the Original program applications is not on the list, select "Browse" option in order to manually locate the directory where Original program has been installed.

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Check the section that lists most common problems with BAK files

Sometimes problems with opening BAK files may not lie with the application itself, but can arise due to other causes, such as:

  • File data is corrupted
  • BAK files has been not been completely download from the internet (only a part of the data has been downloaded)
  • Currently used user account hasn’t been granted necessary privileges to open BAK files (should that be the case, please contact your system administrator or IT specialist)
  • BAK file was being copied from a corrupted storage device and is incomplete or data is corrupted. (Copying files from unknown or untrusted sources should be conducted with great care as such files may contain malicious software, which can damage your system)

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