.mdb files

Common questions

How do I open a .mdb file?

On Windows use Microsoft Access; on macOS use Microsoft Access in a Windows VM (Parallels Desktop); on Linux use mdbtools (mdb-export). The pre-2007 Access database format, still common in old business systems.

What is a .mdb file?

Microsoft Access Database (legacy). MDB is the Jet database file used by Access up to 2003, holding tables, queries, forms and reports in one file. Access on Windows opens it, though recent versions dropped support for the oldest Access 1.0 and 2.0 files.

Can I convert a .mdb file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .accdb, .csv, .xlsx or .sql, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

Related pages

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• .json — JavaScript Object Notation The standard text format for structured data on the web and in config files.
• .xml — Extensible Markup Language A tag-based text format for structured data, still everywhere in enterprise syst
• .yaml — YAML Data File An indentation-based configuration format, readable but unforgiving about whites
• .log — Log File A plain-text record of what a program did, newest events usually at the bottom.
• .torrent — BitTorrent Metainfo File A few kilobytes of metadata describing what to download and from whom — not the
• .dat — Generic Data File A meaningless extension — .dat says only that some program stored data here.
• .vcf — vCard Contact File One or more contacts as plain text — the standard way to move an address book.
• .sql — SQL Script A text file of database commands — often a full database dump.
• .ics — iCalendar Event A calendar invitation or event feed in a plain-text standard format.
• .sqlite — SQLite Database A complete relational database in a single file — the most deployed database in
• .db — Generic Database File An extension many programs use for their data — it does not identify one format.