HBK File

What are HBK files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a HBK file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your HBK files.

What is a HBK file?

HBK files have multiple uses, and Han-Soft Backup is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Han-Soft Backup File

The .hbk file extension is used for a proprietary backup archive format that was developed by Han-soft. These HBK files contain copies of files that have been backed up using the Auto Backup software.

The Auto Backup software allows users to manually create backup copies of the files in their Windows computers. There are also scheduling features that are available in this program, which can enable users to automatically create backup copies of their files.

All backup copies of these files are made available for the user to manipulate, and these HBK files are created by the Auto Backup software so as to archive all files that have been backed up.

How to open HBK files

We have identified one HBK opener that is compatible with this specific type of HBK file.

Programs that open Han-Soft Backup files

Last updated: August 7, 2026

All known file formats using extension .HBK

While Han-Soft Backup File is a popular type of HBK-file, we know of 3 different uses of the .HBK file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Hex Workshop Bookmark File

A Hex Workshop Bookmark File is a data file used by Hex Workshop, a Windows program by BreakPoint Software for editing raw binary files. Bookmark files (with extension .HBK) store user-defined bookmarks for a particular document. Bookmarks let users mark regions of interest by defining a description (label), a start position (offset), a length (size), and optionally a repeat count or array, and associate data types or structure definitions to those regions. You might see this file if you saved a set of bookmarks to reapply them later or share them along with the binary file being examined.

HEXBK files are created and saved by Hex Workshop when you select "Save Bookmark Collection" from the Bookmarks menu in a document. When you later open the same document (or specify file extensions to auto-associate bookmarks), Hex Workshop can load the .HBK file and reapply all bookmarks stored within. This lets users quickly restore marked regions across editing sessions or on files with similar structure. The file is not plain text and is intended for use only by Hex Workshop's bookmark-loading functionality.

Technically the file begins with a specific byte signature: the first eight bytes are 00 FF B4 00 01 00 00 00. Further into the file there is a readable vendor string ("BreakPointSoftware, Inc.") at byte offset 54. These internal identifiers let Hex Workshop recognize the file as one of its bookmark collections.

HBK opener for Windows

We have identified one HBK opener that is compatible with this specific type of HBK file.

HTC SMS Backup

We know that one HBK format is HTC SMS Backup. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested four different HBK openers which you will find listed below.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of HBK files. Remember, different programs may use HBK files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about HBK file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.