BAK file format description

Many people share .bak files without attaching instructions on how to use it. Yet it isn’t evident for everyone which program a .bak file can be edited, converted or printed with. On this page, we try to provide assistance for handling .bak files.

1 filename extension(s) found in our database.

.bak - Backup Copy File

BAK file is a Backup Copy file. The .BAK is a filename extension commonly used to signify a backup copy of a file.

.bak file format description:

BAK format description not yet available

Application:

Category:

Other files

Mime-type:

application/octet-stream

Magic:

- / -

Aliases:

backup, bk, old, ori, orig, ren

Backup Copy File related extensions:

.vpo: VAST Programmer Data
.eos: Arista EOS Script
.firm: Boot9Strap 3DS Firmware Data
.lnk2: Program Neighborhood Explorer Shortcut
.vmoapp: VMware vCenter Orchestrator Application
.low: PDP-10 Program Low Segment

Naturally, other applications may also use the .bak file extension. Even harmful programs can create .bak files. Be especially cautious with .bak files coming from an unknown source!

Can't open a .bak file?

When you double-click a file to open it, Windows examines the filename extension. If Windows recognizes the filename extension, it opens the file in the program that is associated with that filename extension. When Windows does not recognize a filename extension, you receive the following message:

Windows can't open this file:

example.bak

To open this file, Windows needs to know what program you want to use to open it. Windows can go online to look it up automatically, or you can manually select one from a list of programs that are installed on your computer.

To avoid this error, you need to set the file association correctly.

Open Control Panel > Control Panel Home > Default Programs > Set Associations.
Select a file type in the list and click Change Program.

The .bak file extension is often given incorrectly!

According to the searches on our site, these misspellings were the most common in the past year:

abk, hak, bau, bal, ak, nak, fak, bam, ba

Is it possible that the filename extension is misspelled?

Similar file extensions in our database:

.ba: BSC Intermediate Object
.abk: CorelDraw AutoBackup
.bau: OpenOffice.org AutoText Data
.abk: Kodak EasyShare Addressbook Data
.fak: HP MPE/iX Fixed ASCII KSAM Data
.ak: TracerCAD File

Operating systems

DataTypes.net currently supports the following operating systems:

Windows XP/Vista, Windows 7/8, Windows 10, CentOS, Debian GNU/Linux, Ubuntu Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X, iOS, Android

If you find the information on this page useful, please feel free to link to this page.

https://datatypes.net/open-bak-files

If you have useful information about the .bak file format, then write to us!