You’ve got a DAT file that was meant to be a Word document and you have no idea what to do with it. In this tutorial, we will show you how to open a DAT file or convert it into a Word doc.
Let me explain first what is a DAT File?
Simply put, DAT files include text or binary files that contain data. They’re usually found in email attachments as winmail.dat files developed by Microsoft Exchange Servers. However, several other programs can generate DAT files. It’s impossible to know if you’re dealing with email, videos, movies, or anything entirely new if the name doesn’t give it away.
See more:
- How To Convert DAT To MP4 For Free
How To Open a DAT File in Windows 10/8/7
It’s difficult to provide advice about how to open a DAT file from an unfamiliar source because there are so many choices available, depending on the file’s source. However, suppose you were expecting a Word document and instead received a DAT disk. To open the file, you basically have two simple choices.
Method 1: Change the File Extension
First, you may begin by changing the file extension. If you don’t see any file extensions in Windows, go to the folder where your DAT file is stored. Switch to the View tab in File Explorer and press Options. Turn back to the View tab in the Folder Options window and uncheck the feature Hide extensions for recognized file types.
Now you can go back to your file and change the file extension from .dat to .doc, then open the file using Microsoft Word.
Method 2: Open the File
Second, you might try opening the DAT file with Microsoft Word, Notepad, or some other software you think formed the original file. To do this, right-click the DAT file, choose Open with from the menu, and then pick a program from the list. You will click More apps to see applications other than the ones recommended.
If you wanted to associate DAT files with this program (not recommended), you could check Always use this app to open .dat files.
Both of the preceding options can result in a file that is full of gibberish, normally opening it in the incorrect program. You would be able to figure out what kind of file it was. If you open a DAT file that was originally a video file in Notepad, for example, you might see a clue that it’s currently an image.
How To Convert a DAT File into a Word doc
Once you successfully opened the DAT file, you’re at least halfway there to converting it. But once again, there are several options.
The Easy Solutions
Let’s pretend we’re working with a DAT file that was once a DOC file. You modified the file extension, and the file now seems to be in good condition when opened in Microsoft Word. In reality, your file has already been “converted.” Congratulations on your achievement!
If you were able to open the file with Word, the easiest way to “convert” it from DAT to DOC is to save it as a Word document. And there you have it. Is it so difficult?
The Serious Solution: Winmaildat.com
Let’s take this a step further. Both of the above methods failed, and your file does not appear correctly. You need to use a file converter.
If Microsoft Outlook messed your email attachments, the online service Winmaildat.com will be able to help you. You’ve come to the right place if the file you need to decode is called winmail.dat or ATT0001.dat.
Click Choose File from the Home tab to browse the DAT file on your computer. You may also type in a web address. Please keep in mind that the file size limit is 10 MB. Wait for the results after clicking Start.
Winmaildat.com will inform you where the file came from and will help you figure out which software to use to access it.
Checkout this video to illustrate this guide:
Your DAT File Sorted Out
DAT files don’t have anything more to them than that. You’ll need to know the root or original file format to effectively restore data from a DAT file or transfer it back to its original file.
Hope something helps you.
