Extract text from BKG files
To convert your BKG file to another format, you need MicroStation or other Cad software.
To convert other file formats to the "Design Backup File" file type, you need software like MicroStation or a similar tool.
The .BKG extension is a classic example of a "convenience" abbreviation used by multiple unrelated software vendors, creating significant ambiguity for users. Most professionally, it serves as a CAD design backup generated by MicroStation from Bentley Systems. In this context, the file is essentially a snapshot of a DGN drawing, automatically saved to prevent data loss. The primary disadvantage here is that .BKG files are not recognized by standard viewers or operating systems; you cannot double-click to open them, and they are useless for collaboration unless restored or converted.
Beyond CAD, the extension is widely used in the gaming industry (e.g., Unity, Ubisoft titles, Konami) to store background assets, textures, or bundled data. These files are often proprietary containers, meaning standard image editors like Photoshop cannot open them directly without specific plugins or extraction tools. A niche but distinct third use case involves Plurifon electronic callers, where .BKG stores bird call audio sequences, locking users into proprietary hardware.
For MicroStation users, the best workflow is converting to PDF for archiving or DGN for editing. For gamers and developers dealing with asset files, converting to standard PNG or JPG is necessary for viewing textures. Audio files should be converted to MP3 or WAV for universal playback.
Convert.Guru analyzes your BKG file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted MCW, PX and MLM files.
If you want to convert BKG file to JPG, PDF, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, TIF, WEBP, ICO, CUR, PSD or PSB, you can use MicroStation or similar software from the "CAD Design Backup" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert RAW, PNG, AI, NEF, PSB, DNG, SVG, GIF, EPS, JPG, ARW or PDF files to BKG, try MicroStation or another comparable tool in the "CAD Design Backup" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our BKG converter.