Dat files are generic files that can maybe contain text, graphic or other data. In order to open up a .dat file yous can endeavor some of the post-obit methods.

Definition: What Are Dat Files

A dat file is a very mutual file. It is a generic filetype that can contain a multitude of content types. Therefore opening a dat file is difficult, merely doable. Games for example often have dat files in their arrangement folders.

How to open dat files

In a best-case scenario y'all already know type of content information technology contains:

  • Text,
  • graphics,
  • numbers,
  • code,
  • etc.

Else if you lot don't know the content and open it with notepad, you will only encounter scrambled unreadable content:
Scrambled Dat Unreabable Content.png

Well-nigh Reliable Way To Open Them: 7zip

My swiss-regular army knife of choice is 7zip. It is possible to open up nigh generic files with 7zip including dat files. You can but look at the actual content of most dat files:

Using 7Zip To Extract Dat Files.png

You tin can download a free copy of 7zip at 7-zip.org – optionally if 7zip fails, I likewise like pZip and jZip. More alternatives to 7zip

What Is The Index.Dat

There are some special .dat files on your PC that you lot might exist able to read. For instance the alphabetize.dat file is a hidden organization file that logs all of your visited URL'southward on your PC. Not bothering y'all? Well, if you lot are concerned about your privacy, considering yous share your PC with someone else, you should check out this Index.dat reader for Windows seven & Vista

If you accept a special .dat file that yous would similar to open up, y'all can mail the name of the file below and we will inspect it. However, well-nigh .dat files merely cannot be opened.

Starting time Things: What Content Does It Include?

In order to open a dat file properly yous need to identify the content. What is it virtually likely including? Video, text, music?

If y'all don't have a inkling what is inside the dat file, you should requite several programs a try to open the .dat file. The success rate yet is very low and you will probably only encounter random characters when you open the .dat files. However, sometimes you will find programs that are dedicated to open up special .dat files. One of those special .dat files is the file index.dat

Method 1: Opening Text Dat With Notepad++

If it'south text that is stored inside the .dat file, and then endeavour to open information technology with a text editor program like notepad.

If information technology'south a graphic, try to open information technology with a graphic plan.

Method ii: Opening Video DAT With VLC

Sure .dat files that include video content can exist opened with VLC or PowerDVD.

Opening Video Dat Files With Powerdvd.png

Method iii: Opening Paradigm Dat With Photoshop or Photo Viewer

Various programs such as IrfanView are capable of opening quite a lot of files. It is possible that you can browse the content of a dat file that includes images. Requite it a endeavor.

Irfanview To Open Image Dat Files

Determination

As you can see, generic files such as DAT files are hard to open, but with tools such as 7zip information technology gets a lot easier. You should likewise try to figure out what the dat file really contains before trying to open it, which will make your job a whole lot easier.