There’s hardly any point in opening it with a video player. You’ll be able to open the file, but keep in mind most DAT files are just computer codes.
However, if you can’t figure out where the file came from, you can try your luck with a regular video player.Īs mentioned, Windows 10 doesn’t have a built-in video player that supports DAT files. For example, if you have CyberLink PowerDirector installed, it’s a safe bet that’s where the file was created, especially if it’s stored in an adjacent directory. In most cases, video-based DAT files originate in video editing software, so you can usually open them with one. To complete the process, click “Next” when prompted, then “Finish.” Select “All Files” from the drop-down list.
If it’s not pinned to your taskbar, you can use the search bar at the bottom-left corner of the screen. Click on the file you want to download to your PC.
If you receive an Outlook message but don’t have it installed on your PC, you’ll get a winmail.dat file attached instead.
This is especially the case with Microsoft Outlook.
How to Open Winmail.dat FilesĮmail servers sometimes translate emails into the DAT format automatically.
There are many alternative solutions you can download to your PC for free or even use online.Īll of these present a solid alternative to Notepad ++ when it comes to handling DAT files. Of course, you’re not limited to using a pre-installed program. You’ll have to use a different program each time.įor text-based DAT files, Windows 10 has a built-in text editor – the Notepad ++.
Since it’s hard to know whether a DAT file includes images, videos, text, or software configuration files, there’s no one way to open them. The data is then used as a blueprint for various system tasks. They’re mostly hidden away in data directories, but sometimes you can get one as an email attachment.Įach kind of DAT file is created and handled by different software. More often than not, they’re bundled with DLL and other config files. Generic data files with the DAT extension are meant to store important information related to the program that created them. In this article, we’ll go over some of the more common tools you can use to open and convert differently.DAT files. One way to do it is by using a code-reading program which sounds complicated at first, but is pretty straightforward. That can be tricky since there’s nothing about the file that discloses its format right off the bat. First, you have to determine whether it’s video or text-based to figure out how to open a DAT file.