What is Dat file and how to open it?

 What is DAT File?

The DAT file stands for the Data File, which includes the information regarding the application to which the file gets associated. DAT file consists of all the essential data for the software to handle. The information included inside the DAT file is generally in either plain text or binary text; you will see the data in its basic format in very rare cases. Several applications create, open, and reference the .DAT files extension. DAT files are designed only for the program and not to get opened manually by the user.

Methods to Open DAT File

Method 1: On Windows

1.     Determine the application that creates the .DAT Files:

Unlike other file types, DAT files can create virtually any application. You should need to know which program has created the DAT file to ensure which program should open the file.

2.     Open Program:

Make a click or double click on the program's application icon to create the DAT file.

3.     Click on the File button:

On clicking the File button, a menu gets to appears.

4.     Click on the Open button:

open button, placed in the File menu. On clicking, it will open the File Explorer Window.

·         When you use Microsoft Office, you should double click on ”This PC “ in the middle of the page after clicking the Open button to open the File Explorer Window.

5.     Display all the Files in File Explorer:

Click on the file type box in the right of the “Name” text field, then click on the “All Files” button in the resulting drop-down list. It permits the File Explorer to show all files, consisting of a DAT file.

6.     Select DAT File:

Go to the location of a DAT file, then click on the file to select it.

7.     Click on the Open Button:

On clicking the open button, it will prompt the DAT file to start opening in the program.

8.     Confirm on prompted to view the file:

When you receive a warning on the prompt that the file's content does not match the file extension, click yes to open the file.

9.     Change the File Extension from DAT if required:

If you need to avoid dragging the DAT file in the program every time you wish to open it, you can change the file extension from the DAT file to another extension.

·         Right-click on the DAT file and then click on the Rename button.

·         Then select the data portion of the filename.

·         After that, replace the data section with another file extension.

Method 2: On Mac

1.     Determine the application that creates the DAT File:

Unlike other file types, DAT files can create virtually any application. You should need to know which program has created the DAT file to ensure which program should open the file.

2.     Open Program:

Make a click or double click on the program's application icon to create the DAT file.

3.     Drag DAT file in the program’s window:

Click and drag the DAT file in the program’s window.

·         As Mac generally won't view the DAT file as readable. So you can not typically open the DAT file by just using the File button and then click on the Open menu in the selected program.

4.     Drop DAT File:

It opens the DAT file in the program.

5.     Confirm on prompted to view the file:

When you receive a warning on the prompt that the file's content does not match the file extension, click yes to open the file.

6.     Change the File Extension from DAT if required:

If you need to avoid dragging the DAT file in the program every time you wish to open it, you can change the file extension from the DAT file to another extension.

·         Firstly, select the DAT file.

·         Click on the File button and then click on the Get Info tab in the drop-down list.

·         Then click on the triangle placed next to the “Name & Extension” category.

·         Uncheck the “odin downloads” box if required.

·         Then replace the data file extension with the file extension present in the file's current name.

·         Then press the Return button and then click on the Use extension when prompt.

Method 3: Finding Appropriate Program

1.     Consider the context of the DAT file:

You can figure out easily which program you are supposed to use to open the DAT file depends on the location of the DAT  file where it gets stored or on the name of the file.

2.     Ask your file’s creator:

If you had received the DAT file in the form of an email message or downloaded it from a site, then try to contact the person who had sent or uploaded that DAT file and ask them the program they used to create the file.

3.     Open DAT file in Text Editor:

It's best to use the computer's built-in text editor to view the contents of the DAT file:

·         Windows: open Notepad and then drag and drop the DAT file in the Notepad window.

·         Mac: open TextEdit from Mac's applications folder and then drag and drop the DAT file in the TextEdit window.

4.     Look for the information regarding the DAT file:

Depending on the DAT file, you can see the line or two lines of text which can determine the software used to open the file.

·         Even if you don't find any line about the particular program you need to use, you may find a line indicating the file type.

5.     Try to open the DAT file in the basic program:

Some applications like VLC Media Player, Preview, iTunes, and Notepad++ should open a huge number of file types without changing the contents of the files.

6.     Use trial and error method:

You can do this action by opening the program, dragging the DAT file in the program's window, drop it there, and then wait for the file to get open.

·         If the file opens in the recognized format, it means you have found the correct program.

·         If the program shows the DAT file as an incomprehensible jumble of characters or refuses to open the file, the selected program may not include the correct program.