BSA file format description

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

1 filename extension(s) found in our database.

.bsa - Fallout 3 Bethesda Softworks Archive

The BSA game data files are related to Fallout 3. The BSA file is a Fallout 3 Bethesda Softworks Archive. Fallout 3 is an action role-playing open world video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios. BSA is a file extension for a data file used with Bethesda games.

Application:

Fallout 3

Category:

Game Data files

Mime-type:

application/octet-stream

Magic:

- / -

Aliases:

Fallout 3 Bethesda Softworks Archive related extensions:

.are: Infinity Engine Area Contents
.xwm: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Audio Data
.bgl: MS Flight Simulator Compressed Scenery
.vhc: Big Red Racing Vehicle Data
.tik: Heavy Metal F.A.K.K. 2 TIKI Model
.h4r: Heroes of Might and Magic IV Data

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

Can't open a .bsa 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.bsa

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 .bsa file extension is often given incorrectly!

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

ba, bas, bca, bea, bqa, bs, bsq, bsw, bsx, bsz, bwa, bxa, bza, fsa, gsa

Is it possible that the filename extension is misspelled?

Similar file extensions in our database:

.sa: Unix Shared Library
.bas: BASIC Source
.bas: Visual Basic Module
.bas: MODFLOW Basic Package
.vsa: SWV Virtual Solution Archive
.bas: ALEID2000 Basic Data

Operating systems

DataTypes.net currently supports the following operating systems:

Windows XP/Vista, Windows 7/8/10, Windows 11, CentOS, Debian GNU/Linux, Ubuntu Linux, FreeBSD, macOS, 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-bsa-files

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