Open BAT files

  • Full name
    Batch File (executable)
  • Developer
    Microsoft
  • Popularity
Have you encountered a problem with a BAT 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 BAT file here. In the further part of this page we have added a list of programs that should open your BAT file. It is enough you choose a proper application for your operating system, download and install it.

What is BAT file?

A BAT file is a batch file called a batch file. Probably the best-known BAT file may well be the autoexec.Bat, which has been used since MS-DOS to Windows 98. Batch files are mainly used for repetitive tasks.

More info

Although a BAT file behaves like an exe (double-clicking it starts), it's actually just a text file with a different extension. This contains command scripts that are processed by the command line interpreter. If you double-click a BAT file, the window for opening an MS-DOS window appears, where text files can be edited while processing the BAT file. This is the command line interpreter.

Even if the possibilities of a batch script are limited, many everyday tasks can be performed with BAT files, above all file operations and network tasks, but also shutting down the computer or re-registering a user are possible.

Note that you should never run BAT files from an unknown source. On the one hand they can contain viruses or malicious code and on the other hand batch scripts can also delete files or format the hard disk. A look with a text editor in such a file is definitely useful. Especially when such commands as format, ren or del are in it is advised to be careful.

Programs which can open a BAT file

How to open file with BAT extension?

In order to open a file with BAT extension one of the following programs must be installed on user’s system. If a problem with opening BAT 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 BAT files, follow the instructions below.
1
Install Parallels Desktop or other program from the list

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

Set Parallels Desktop as the default program for opening BAT 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 BAT 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 Parallels Desktop applications is not on the list, select "Browse" option in order to manually locate the directory where Parallels Desktop has been installed.

2
3
Check the section that lists most common problems with BAT files

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

  • File data is corrupted
  • BAT 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 BAT files (should that be the case, please contact your system administrator or IT specialist)
  • BAT 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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