- BAK files can be identified by the .BAK file extension following the filename. They typically are given the same filename as the original file they are a copy of. For example, a copy of the file "CONFIG.INI" would be named "CONFIG.BAK."
- Backup files are created automatically by many computer programs. Users can also manually create them by simply copying a file and renaming it with a .BAK extension. The .BAK extension is not required for a backup file, but it helps readily identify them and is a widely used standard.
- BAK files can be restored by renaming them with the proper file extension. This extension depends on what kind of file you are restoring. For example, a backup of a Microsoft Word document named "RESUME" would be renamed to "RESUME.DOC," while a backup of a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet would be renamed with an .XLS extension.
- BAK files can typically be deleted from a computer without any problems. However, if you delete the BAK file, you will not be able to revert back to that version of the original file. BAK files usually do not take up a lot of space and can be left alone unless disk space is critically low.
- When cleaning up BAK files, make sure all programs are closed. Delete the oldest BAK files first. Consider what each BAK file contains by looking at the filename and directory location--some might be worth saving indefinitely.
