Why convert DAT to TXT?
The .dat extension is a generic label with no fixed meaning. When a program writes readable settings, log lines, or delimited records to a .dat file, renaming it to .txt makes it compatible with tools and scripts that require that extension without altering any data.
How to convert DAT to TXT
Notepad FREE
Open the .dat in Notepad; if the content is readable, go to File > Save As, type the new name with a .txt extension, and choose All Files in the type dropdown.
Notepad++ OPEN-SOURCE
Open the .dat in Notepad++, confirm it is readable text, then File > Save As with a .txt extension.
TextEdit FREE
Drag the .dat onto TextEdit; if readable, save as plain text with a .txt extension.
About these formats
.DAT
Program Data File (generic)
A DAT file holds generic data created by a specific program, and the extension alone won't tell you which one or what's inside. Open a copy in a text editor first: readable text means it's…
Open .DAT details →
.TXT
Plain Text File
A TXT file is plain, unformatted text - the simplest document format on any computer. Double-click it: Windows opens it in Notepad, macOS in TextEdit, Linux in gedit. Nothing to install. If…
Open .TXT details →Quality & what to watch
- Renaming or re-saving does not alter the bytes - the
.datand the resulting.txtare identical; only the extension changes. - A .dat from a log or settings folder is likely text; a .dat from a game save or media cache is likely binary and cannot be converted to TXT.
- No dedicated DAT-to-TXT converter is needed; any text editor that can open the file handles the job.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my .dat is text or binary?
Can I just rename the file without opening an editor?
.dat to .txt; the file contents are unchanged.
