BAD File – What is .bad file and how to open it?

What is a BAD File?

A BAD file, or Exchange Badmail File, is a type of file created by Microsoft Exchange Server when it encounters an email message that it cannot deliver. BAD files are generated when the recipient’s email address is invalid, the message is too large to be delivered, or there is another problem with the message that prevents it from being delivered. BAD files contain a copy of the original email message, along with information about the reason why the message could not be delivered.

Using BAD Files

BAD files can be used to troubleshoot email delivery problems. By examining the contents of a BAD file, you can determine why a message could not be delivered and take steps to resolve the issue. For example, if a BAD file indicates that the recipient’s email address is invalid, you can correct the address and resend the message. If a BAD file indicates that the message is too large, you can reduce the size of the message and resend it.

Opening BAD Files

BAD files are encountered when an email is rejected by an Exchange server due to policy violations or other reasons. To open BAD files, one must convert them to a more accessible format, such as EML or MSG. Several methods can accomplish this, including:

1. Using Outlook: Open Outlook and navigate to the folder containing the BAD file. Right-click the file, select “Open,” and choose “Outlook Message Format” or “Microsoft Exchange Email Format” as the desired format.

2. Using Online Converters: Various online converters allow you to upload BAD files and convert them to EML or MSG formats. These converters typically require users to provide an email address to receive the converted file. Some popular online converters include BadMailConverter.com and EMLtoMSG.com.

Once the BAD file is converted, it can be opened using an email client such as Outlook, Apple Mail, or Thunderbird. The converted file will contain the email’s content, including the sender, recipient, subject, body, and attachments (if any).

Exchange Badmail File (.BAD)

The .BAD file extension is associated with Microsoft Exchange Server, a messaging and collaboration platform. It stores messages that have been identified as spam or malware by Exchange’s content filtering mechanisms. These messages are quarantined in .BAD files to prevent them from reaching intended recipients. Administrators can review and manually release legitimate messages or delete malicious ones from .BAD files.

Technical Details

.BAD files are binary files that contain quarantined messages in a proprietary format. Each .BAD file contains multiple messages, which can be in multiple MIME formats, such as HTML, plain text, or attachments. .BAD files can also store information about the sender, recipient, subject, and other metadata associated with the messages. Administrators can access .BAD files using the Exchange Management Shell (EMS) or third-party tools to analyze and manage quarantined messages.

Other Extensions