What Is a DAT File?

Sometimes you’ll find them by themselves, but often they’re with other configuration files likeDLL files.

No specific program is responsible for creating or using every bang out of DAT file.

DAT file in Windows 10

Awidevariety of applications use them as references to certain operations in their respective program.

The data behind a DAT file isn’t so obvious.

Most types of files do.

Screenshot of Windows 10 window showing Notepad text editor.

These types of DAT files may belocked filesthat aren’t easy to delete, move, or edit.

These files will probably never need to be manually opened or manipulated in any way.

The idea is to see where the DAT file is on your setup.

DAT text file called FileInfo_pt_BR.dat

That attachment might ultimately end up being anyotherkind of file, like a document, an image, etc.

The steps to convert onecompletelydepend on the pop in of file you’re working with.

A conversion would probably render the file, and possibly even the program, unusable.

Screenshot showing DriveImage XML restoring a backed up hard drive

Remember my advice aboutwinmail.datandATT0001.datfiles above if an email attachment is the source of your DAT file.

you could’tusuallychange a file extensionto one that your gear recognizes and expect the newly renamed file to be usable.

Still Can’t Open It?

Double-check the file extension of your file.

For example, maybe you really have aDARorBATfile.

Then, you’re free to find a program on Mac that reads those kinds of files.

Winmail DAT files are DAT files created and used by Microsoft Outlook.

These files traditionally contain email formatting information to be used by Outlook to properly display emails when being viewed.