How to convert BAK file to PDF file. How to open BAK and what kind of files they are Program for opening bak

If you don't know how to open a bak file, read this article.

Files on your computer with the .bak extension are special backup files. In English they are called Backup File. In principle, such files are considered unnecessary for the system and are deleted by special cleaning programs.

Bak files can be of several types:

  • Backup copies of bookmarks of the Mozilla Firefox Internet browser. In case the main file is damaged, files with the .bak extension can be used to replace your saved bookmarks in the web browser. Such files are almost always created automatically. They are called “bookmarks.bak”. You can open them, as you guessed it, with the Mozilla Firefox browser.
  • bak files created automatically by the operating system. Or programs like AutoCAD.
  • Files created by ACT. They are used for data recovery. They will help if the data is suddenly deleted unexpectedly.

Programs: how to open bak

  1. Such files are always opened by the program on your computer that once created them.
  2. Universal programs like Lister or the popular Total Commander can help you.

Are you having trouble opening .BAK files? We collect information about file formats and can explain what BAK files are. Additionally, we recommend programs that are most suitable for opening or converting such files.

What is the .BAK file format used for?

Extension .bak traditionally means "Backup" and is assigned to the names of backup files. This is a function-oriented extension that indicates the function of the file, but not its format. A backup is a complete copy of a file, made in case the original file is damaged or lost.

It is as backups that BAK files are created, both manually and automatically, especially for system-wide configuration files, boot scripts, user credentials, password hashes, and other critical system files. Extension .bak can either replace the original extension or simply attach to it.



File with extension .bak can be a file of any type and any format. Sometimes you can determine the type and/or format of such a file by its original extension.

Creating backups as .bak files before making any changes to the source files is considered good practice and should be followed in all cases whenever possible. However, BAK files tend to accumulate and can take up a lot of space. Old, redundant and unnecessary files .bak can be deleted with confidence.

Programs for opening or converting BAK files

You can open BAK files with the following programs: 

A BAK file is a format that contains an archived backup copy of the original file. Such files are created as a result of the operation of programs or the operating system as a whole. Objects can be created automatically or by the user himself.

Where is the BAK format found?

The BAK extension can be found when working with any program that creates or edits image files, documents, or archives with program code. Also, backup copies are often stored on mobile devices for convenient archiving of phone numbers and application data.

Often BAK can be found as one of the main formats of the AutoCAD software package, which is used to create drawings, circuit diagrams and flowcharts of algorithms. When saving a newer version of a file, the old copy does not disappear anywhere and is added to the main application directory. At the same time, the BAK format is also added to its extension, which indicates that the object is an archived copy of the document. If the main file is damaged or deleted, all data can be restored using a drawing backup.

How to open BAK

The most common BAK viewer is AutoCAD. It can be installed on Windows, Mac OS and Linux. To open a backup file in AutoCAD, simply remove the backup extension from the file name, leaving the original format. Then open the drawing in the program window and continue editing it.

Other apps for viewing BAK:

  • Total Commander - a universal explorer allows you to easily open archives and backups on mobile platforms or in Windows OS;
  • Command line. On Linux and MacOS, you should use the file command line utility to view the contents of a BAK document. It opens the firmware and unpacks the desired file;

You've probably seen files with the BAK extension on your computer and wondered how to open such a file. Maybe you tried to open it by simply clicking it, but the Windows message showed error details. In order to decide on the answer to the question of how to open BAK, you need to understand what it is.

A file with this extension represents data saved during a backup. In other words, BAKs are general backup files, so opening them involves using a lot of programs. So, you have found the BAK file. How to open it? The program in which it was created. Such software can be either specially designed for or simply an application that creates a backup copy (BAK) of another important file.

For example, all Autodesk programs, including AutoCAD, use BAK files regularly to back up files. Other programs also work with this format, such as any financial planning software, tax programs, etc.

The question of how to open BAK can be important, as well as the presence of these files themselves. First of all, you need to find out where you found this file on your computer and what it is called. The answers to these questions could help you find a program with which you can open it.

General recommendations for solving the question “how to open it” would be to use Notepad or another text editor. Many files have text content that can be read no matter what the file extension is, and a text editor may be able to display their content correctly. Of course, this method may not work, but it's always worth a try.

How to convert BAK file:

There are two main ways in which it is possible to convert a BAK file to another type:

The first method is to open such a file in any default program and choose to save the open file in a different format.

The second way is to use file conversion services or software to convert the files to another format.

Also, when deciding how to open BAK, you should not try to simply change the file extension. This will not convert the format and the computer will not recognize the file. If none of the programs installed on your computer help, your only option is to resort to conversion tools. Which one to use is up to you to decide for yourself.

In other words, when talking about how to open BAK, you should use standard methods for such cases. First of all, try to open it using the default settings, but if this does not help, seek help from third-party online services or appropriate software. There are quite a few applications that work with this today, and most of them can be found freely available on the Internet or purchased for a small fee.

Surely each of you has noticed that when working on a project in AutoCAD, after saving the drawing file *.dwg, another file appears in the same folder, which has the extension *.bak.

Let's take a closer look, what are bak files in AutoCAD, and when they can come in handy.

In AutoCAD, the bak file is a backup copy of the drawing, and if this extension is manually changed to *.dwg, then the file will open in AutoCAD without any problems and will contain a drawing with all objects. These files are created by default, because... in “Settings” the checkbox next to “Create backup copies” is checked (see figure).

How to set up autosave in AutoCAD?

Information is not added to the backup copy immediately, but only when the main file is re-saved. Therefore, in order to organize work in AutoCAD as efficiently as possible, adhere to the following algorithm:

1. When starting work on a new drawing, immediately save it on your computer (“File” – “Save”).

2. In the command line, write “SETTINGS”, press Enter and in the dialog box that opens, go to the “Open/Save” tab. Make sure that the checkbox next to “Create backup copies” is checked, and that autosaving is performed in AutoCAD.

3. Set up AutoCAD autosave. The optimal time is 15-20 minutes.

4. Remember that Therefore, never neglect point #1.

I also recommend that in the “Saving Files” section, select “Save in Format” - AutoCAD 2004 or 2007, so that in the future you or anyone who needs this drawing can open the file in an earlier version.

Well, now you know how to open bak in AutoCAD and understand how useful this file can be, because... allows you to avoid data loss due to unforeseen situations. In AutoCAD, autosave is where the main drawing file is.

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