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Outlook BAK File: What is it & How to Open or Restore it?
A key to seamless data recovery
4 min. read
Updated onJuly 3, 2024
updated onJuly 3, 2024
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If you have come across a BAK file in the Outlook folder, wondering what it is used for, or if it is legit, this guide can help!
We will discuss how the BAK file is created, its functionality, and detailed instructions to restore lost Outlook data.
An Outlook BAK file is a backup file that is created by Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair Tool just before making changes in the original PST file during a repair process
The file created has the same name as the original file but has a .bak extension and is stored in the same folder as the Outlook data file, which isSystem Drive:\Users<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook
It may contain additional data, including email messages, contacts, calendar items, and settings. Therefore, it can recover data if theoriginal data file becomes inaccessible.
In case you don’t want to save this file, you can remove the checkmark next toMake backup of scanned files before repairingbefore you click theRepairbutton on the Inbox Repair window.
How do I open a BAK file in Outlook?
You can not directly open the BAK file in Outlook; however, you can access it after changing the file format from .bak to .pst. Once youchange the extension, you can follow these steps to open the file in Outlook:
Outlook will refresh and show you the contents of the file. Go through the email messages, contacts and configuration settings to confirm that the data you want to recover is on the file.
How do I restore a BAK file in Outlook?
How do I import a BAK File in Outlook?
Now that you have the .PST file ready, you can import it using the Import & Export Wizard window. To do so, follow these steps:
Once the import process is complete, Outlook will refresh itself, and you can see the recovered items in the selected folder.
If the Import process fails, the BAK file is likely corrupted; in that case, you might need areliable data recovery tool to restore the lost data.
Always be extra careful when you change the file’s extension, as if not done correctly, the file becomes unusable and might not appear in the Import Outlook Data File window.
Also, before changing the extension, you should create a copy of the backup file and make changes to always have the original backup file if anything goes wrong.
Speaking of BAK files, if you want toopen the SQL Bak files on Excel, we have an exciting guide to help you with that.
To learn about a similar file type, our guide on how toopen BCK filesis here to answer all your questions. For conversion, we have a simple guide totransform MSG to PST format.
If you have any other questions related to BAK files, please mention them in the comments section below.
More about the topics:Outlook Guides
Srishti Sisodia
Windows Software Expert
Srishti Sisodia is an electronics engineer and writer with a passion for technology. She has extensive experience exploring the latest technological advancements and sharing her insights through informative blogs.
Her diverse interests bring a unique perspective to her work, and she approaches everything with commitment, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn. That’s why she’s part of Windows Report’s Reviewers team, always willing to share the real-life experience with any software or hardware product. She’s also specialized in Azure, cloud computing, and AI.
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Srishti Sisodia
Windows Software Expert
She is an electronics engineer and writer with a passion for technology. Srishti is specialized in Azure, cloud computing, and AI.
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