1098 catalogued formats
Backup & Recovery Formats
Backup formats are built for recovery, not for everyday editing. They may store a complete filesystem, incremental changes, application settings, or a vendor-specific image. Many are tied to the backup program that created them, so the extension alone does not guarantee that another tool can read the contents.
Why this format suite matters
- A backup is only useful if the restore path is known before data is lost.
- Vendor-specific images may require the original application or a compatible recovery environment.
- Compression and encryption settings affect both recovery time and the ability to access files without the key.
Common formats in this suite
A sample of the catalog. Not every extension has a live converter.
| Format | Extension | MIME | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAK | .bak | application/octet-stream | BAK backup file format |
| BKF | .bkf | application/octet-stream | BKF backup file format |
| BKP | .bkp | application/octet-stream | BKP backup file format |
| 001 | .001 | application/octet-stream | 001 backup file format |
| 1ST | .1st | application/octet-stream | 1ST backup file format |
| ABK | .abk | application/octet-stream | ABK backup file format |
| 301 | .301 | application/octet-stream | 301 backup file format |
| ABA | .aba | application/octet-stream | ABA backup file format |
| ABC | .abc | application/octet-stream | ABC backup file format |
| ABD | .abd | application/octet-stream | ABD backup file format |
| ABF | .abf | application/octet-stream | ABF backup file format |
| ABU | .abu | application/octet-stream | ABU backup file format |
| AC | .ac | application/octet-stream | AC backup file format |
| AC$ | .ac$ | application/octet-stream | AC$ backup file format |
| ACB | .acb | application/octet-stream | ACB backup file format |
| ACC | .acc | application/octet-stream | ACC backup file format |
| ACE | .ace | application/octet-stream | ACE backup file format |
| ACF | .acf | application/octet-stream | ACF backup file format |
| ADB | .adb | application/octet-stream | ADB backup file format |
| ADF | .adf | application/octet-stream | ADF backup file format |
| ADL | .adl | application/octet-stream | ADL backup file format |
| ADM | .adm | application/octet-stream | ADM backup file format |
| ADN | .adn | application/octet-stream | ADN backup file format |
| ADP | .adp | application/octet-stream | ADP backup file format |
| AFK | .afk | application/octet-stream | AFK backup file format |
| ALF | .alf | application/octet-stream | ALF backup file format |
| AP | .ap | application/octet-stream | AP backup file format |
| APK | .apk | application/octet-stream | APK backup file format |
Showing 28 of 1098 catalogued formats. Use the converter directory for supported tools.
Common workflows
System recovery
Keep the recovery media and password with the backup, not only the archive file.
Application migration
Some backup files can be mounted or extracted to recover individual files.
Long-term archives
Document the software version and restore procedure alongside the backup.
Before you convert
Start with the application that must open the result. Keep the recovery media and password with the backup, not only the archive file. Keep the original file until the output has been opened and checked. A format name alone does not guarantee compatibility, especially for backup & recovery formats data that may include references, layers, or platform-specific metadata.
- Confirm the source file opens correctly in its original application.
- Identify the exact format and version the destination accepts.
- Keep the source until the converted file has been reviewed.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I open a backup file like a ZIP archive?
- Some backup formats are archive-like, but many contain proprietary metadata or encryption. Do not assume a standard ZIP tool can restore the backup.
- Do I need the original backup program?
- Often yes. Vendor-specific images may require the same software or a compatible recovery environment.
- Are backup files encrypted?
- Some are. Without the password or recovery key, the contents may be unrecoverable.
- Can this site convert backup files?
- Only where a supported converter exists. Backup recovery is usually a job for the original backup application.
- What should I check before converting a backup & recovery formats file?
- Confirm that the source opens in its original application, identify the format the destination requires, and keep an untouched copy. Test one representative file before processing a batch, especially when metadata, links, geometry, or layout matters.