PBK File – What is .pbk file and how to open it?

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PBK File Extension

Dial-Up Phone Book File – file format by Microsoft

PBK (Dial-Up Phone Book File) is a file extension developed by Microsoft for Windows Dial-Up Networking. It stores information about dial-up connections, including the phone number, username, password, and other settings.

PBK File Extension

A PBK file is a Dial-Up Phone Book File used in older versions of Microsoft Windows, such as Windows 95, 98, and Me. This file stores information related to dial-up connections, including dial-up numbers, user names, passwords, and other settings. PBK files are typically created and managed using the Dial-Up Networking utility in Windows.

.PBK File Function

PBK files serve as a convenient method for storing and managing multiple dial-up configurations. Users can create separate entries for each dial-up connection they need to access, making it easy to switch between them. PBK files also provide a centralized location for storing important connection information, ensuring easy access and reducing the risk of information loss. Additionally, PBK files can be shared between different computers, allowing users to access their dial-up configurations from multiple devices.

Identifying PBK Files

PBK files are associated with dial-up modems and contain phone book information. They store the names, phone numbers, and other details of contacts used for making dial-up connections. These files are typically found in Windows systems and are managed by the Phone and Modem Options in Control Panel. Each entry in a PBK file represents a specific phone number and includes information such as:

  • Contact name
  • Phone number
  • Dialing preferences
  • Additional notes

Opening PBK Files

PBK files can be opened and managed using the Phone and Modem Options utility in Windows. Here are the steps to open a PBK file:

  1. Navigate to the Control Panel and select “Phone and Modem Options.”
  2. In the Phone and Modem Options window, select the “Dialing Properties” tab.
  3. Click on the “Advanced” button and then the “Phone Book” tab.
  4. In the Phone Book tab, you can import, export, or view PBK files.
  5. To open a PBK file, click on the “Import…” button and select the PBK file you want to open.
  6. Once the PBK file is imported, the contacts will be displayed in the Dialing Properties window.

Alternatively, PBK files can also be opened using a text editor, such as Notepad or WordPad. However, this method only provides access to the raw text data and does not offer the user-friendly interface provided by the Phone and Modem Options utility.

PBK File Overview

A PBK file is a type of data file used by Microsoft’s operating systems to store dial-up phone book entries. It contains information about the user’s phone book contacts, including their names, phone numbers, and connection settings. PBK files are typically located in the Windows user profile directory, within the “Contacts” folder.

Usage and Significance

PBK files are primarily associated with Microsoft’s older operating systems, such as Windows 9x, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows 2000. In these versions of Windows, the PBK file format was used to store the user’s dial-up phone book entries. As a result, PBK files were essential for enabling users to connect to the internet and make phone calls using their dial-up modems. In newer versions of Windows, such as Windows XP and later, the PBK file format was replaced by the .pba (Phone Book Address Book File) format, which offers improved organization and functionality for phone book entries.

Other Extensions