.BAK File Extension

A BAK file is a backup of a Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox bookmarks file, which can be used to replace saved bookmarks in case the main bookmarks file becomes corrupt. It is automatically generated by the Chrome or Firefox web browser and is typically named bookmarks.bak.

If Chrome creates a bookmarks.bak file, it is located in the following directories with a Bookmarks text file in Windows and macOS:

• Windows: C:Users\​[username]\​AppData\​Local\​Google\​Chrome\​User Data\​Default
• macOS: /​Users/​[username]/​Library/​Application Support/​Google/​Chrome/​Default

If Firefox creates a bookmarks.bak file, it is located in the following directories with a Bookmarks text file in Windows and macOS:

• Windows: C:\​Documents and Settings\​[username]\​Application Data\​Mozilla\​Firefox\​Profiles\​[random-name]
• macOS: /​Users/​[username]/​Library/​Application Support/​Firefox/​Profiles/​[random-name].default

A BAK file is a backup of another document or file, commonly created automatically by software programs or by the operating system. It typically contains a copy of the original file and can be restored to the original by replacing the .bak extension with the original extension.

Often BAK files are created by simply appending .bak to the original filename. For example, document.doc may have a backup file document.doc.bak.

NOTE: An example program that uses the ".bak" extension is AutoCAD. Windows may also create BAK files for the System.ini and Win.ini files.

Backup file created by ACT!, an application used for customer relationship management (CRM); contains a backup of CRM data, which includes customer information such as names, address information, and history.

ACT! BAK files are used for restoring data in the event the CRM data is lost. They are usually created on a periodic basis and when upgrading ACT! software.

NOTE: Sage ACT! became Swiftpage Act! in 2013.

File created by Finale, a music notation application for playing instruments, vocals, etc.; replaced by the .BAKX file, which was released in Finale 2014; contains backup data for .MUS files; created when MUS files are saved by the user.

To create a BAK file:

1. You must first enable the backup creation option.
2. Select Finale [version] → Preferences....
3. Select "Save and Print" in the list on the left of the "Preferences" window, check the "Make Backups When Saving Files" checkbox, and click OK.
4. Now when you save your MUS file, a BAK file will be created.

A BAK file is a backup file created by Wondershare MobileTrans, a program used to backup and transfer data from and to devices. It contains data backed up from a device, such as contacts, messages, calendar information, call logs, photos, music, videos, apps, and app data.

BAK files are the primary file type associated with MobileTrans. The file is created when backing up a phone to a computer. To do this in MobileTrans, click "Back Up Your Phone" on the homepage of the program, select the content to backup, and click "Start Transfer". The BAK file will then be created to store the backup data and placed in the following directory:

C:\​Users\​[username]\​Wondershare\​MobileTrans\​Backup

To restore a BAK file to a device in MobileTrans, click "Restore From Backups" on the homepage of the program, click "MobileTrans", select the BAK file you want to restore, and click "Start Transfer".

A BAK file is a backup file created by MAGIX VEGAS, a professional video-editing and disc-authoring application. It contains a copy of a VEGAS video project (.VEG file). VEGAS backup files use the extension .veg.bak.

In the event MAGIX VEGAS quits before you can manually save an in-progress video project, the program will automatically save that project as a BAK file. BAK files can be used to recover a project and save it as a VEG file.

Typically, VEGAS BAK files are located in the following directory:

C:/​Users/​YourUserName/​AppData/​Local/​VEGAS Pro

You can open a VEGAS BAK file in MAGIX VEGAS (Windows). To do so, change the file's extension from .veg.bak to .veg and then open the file in VEGAS.

A BAK file is a backup of a Microsoft SQL Server database. It contains a copy of all or some of the files included within the database. BAK files are created using SQL Server Management Studio, Transact-SQL, or Windows PowerShell.

Database administrators use Microsoft SQL Server to store data within relational databases that reside on one or more servers. Because servers can fail and databases can become corrupted, administrators often create backups of their databases and store them on separate servers. That way, administrators can easily replace their original database with its backup if an issue arises. Database backups are saved as BAK files.

Sometimes, administrators create backups that contain only part of a database. These backups, known as differential backups or partial backups, are also saved with the .bak extension.

You can open a BAK file and use it to restore a SQL Server database in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio, which is included in Microsoft SQL Server. To do so, follow the instructions included in Microsoft's online SQL documentation.

A BAK file is a backup file created by Terraria, a 2D action adventure and sandbox construction game. It contains a copy of a world (.WLD file) or a player (.PLR file) in Terraria. BAK files are used for storing a backup of a WLD or PLR in the event that the file becomes corrupt or lost.

BAK files created by Terraria are simply WLD or PLR files but with the .bak file extension added to the file. For example, a backup of the example.wld file appears as example.wld.bak. If you need to open the backup file in Terraria, remove the .bak extension and place the file in the appropriate folder.

WLD files should be placed in the following directory:

[user]\​Documents\​My Games\​Terraria\​Worlds\​

PLR files should be placed in the following directory:

[user]\​Documents\​My Games\​Terraria\​Players\​

A BAK file is a backup file created by the Android 2.2+ version of Holo Launcher. It contains a record of a Holo Launcher user's custom Android launcher settings and shortcuts. BAK files can be created and imported using Holo Launcher's Backup & Restore menu.

Holo Launcher for Android 2.2+ devices, also known as Holo Launcher for Froyo, is an old Android customization app. Android users use Holo Launcher to replace the operating system's default home screen and customize the way the operating system looks and behaves.

If a user wants to back up their current Holo Launcher for Froyo settings, they can do so using the app's Backup & Restore → Backup option. Doing so saves the user's current settings and shortcuts as a BAK file.

You can open a Holo Launcher BAK file in Holo Launcher for Froyo (Android), using the app's Backup & Restore → Restore option. Doing so will apply the settings and shortcuts the BAK file contains to your Android device.

A BAK file is a backup file created by Taskbar, an app launcher for Android and Chrome OS devices. It contains a record of a user's Taskbar settings. Taskbar users can use a BAK file to restore their settings to a previous state.

Taskbar allows Android and Chrome OS users to add a Windows-like Start menu to their device's screen. This allows users to quickly search for and open applications. Taskbar contains many settings, including the ability to hide Taskbar at certain times, block certain apps from appearing in the Start menu, customize Taskbar's appearance, and more.

If a user wants to back up their current Taskbar settings, they can open the app and select Advanced features → Manage app data → Backup settings to file.... A Save as prompt will appear, from which the user can save their settings as a BAK file. The file is typically named Taskbar-YYYYMMDD-######.bak.

Each BAK file is a Zip-compressed file that contains a .JSON file. The JSON file contains a plain text list of the user's Taskbar settings.

You can use a BAK file to restore your Taskbar settings. To do so, open the app and select Advanced features → Manage app data → Restore settings from file.... Then, navigate to and open your BAK file.

If necessary, you can also decompress your BAK file using any Zip-decompression utility, and then view the JSON data your file contains. (You may have to change the file's extension to .ZIP before you can decompress it.)