Open DBX files

  • Full name
    Microsoft Outlook Express E-mail Folder Format
  • Developer
    Microsoft
  • Popularity
Have you encountered a problem with a DBX 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 DBX file here. In the further part of this page we have added a list of programs that should open your DBX file. It is enough you choose a proper application for your operating system, download and install it.

What is DBX file?

Files with the extension DBX contain a folder of the email program Outlook Express from Microsoft. The name of the file usually represents the name of the corresponding folder in the program, eg Sent.Dbx or inbox.Dbx (for the Inbox). The format of these files is proprietary and can be processed by only a few programs.

More info

The file folder.Dbx contains a directory (index) of the other folders and is generated automatically. Copying the files or the directory in which they are located copies the entire structure of the Outlook Express folders and the emails they contain. This makes it very easy to create a backup copy of your own emails.

Extracting individual messages is more complicated, but Outlook Express itself and a number of programs are capable of doing so. These often have special functions such as the reconstruction of partially destroyed mails or the migration of data.

Programs which can open a DBX file

How to open file with DBX extension?

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

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

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

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Check the section that lists most common problems with DBX files

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

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