What is? BAK File Format and How to Open it?
A Bak file is the backup copy of another file. Usually, it is produced either mechanically by a program or personally by a user. BAK files which are used to store backups of data including system data, documents, photos, music, and videos allow one to backup all of these files. Sometimes BAK files are used in the process of restoring an older version of a file should the file get corrupted or destroyed by mistake.
Although other extensions could possibly be used, the most usually used file extension for BAK files is the.BAK one. BAK files are not meant to be opened once they have been created; they are typically merely backup copies of other files.
Depending on the type of file it is, an opening of a BAK file can be achieved in several ways. Some BAK files, including documents or images, are just renamed copies of other files—that is, nothing more than duplicates. Under this specific situation, you can open the BAK file by changing the file extension from.BAK to the suitable one. For example, opening a Word document included in a.BAK file opens the document by changing the extension from. BAK to. DOCX.
Should the BAK file be a backup of a program or system file, usually one can open it using a utility or tool meant especially for opening and restoring the file. Windows System Restore can, for example, open and restore some BAK files.
Further circumstances exist whereby a BAK file might be encrypted or compressed. Should this be the case, opening the file might call for using a certain application or utility. Should a BAK file be encrypted, for example, you may be obliged to use the same tool used to generate the file in order to subsequently be able to access it.
One can open BAK files with a text editor such as Notepad or TextEdit as well. Another alternative is this. Still, the BAK file must be a plain text file exactly if this is to be successful. A text editor will not be able to open an encrypted BAK file or one containing binary data.