---
title: ".mdb file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .mdb file is a Microsoft Access Database (legacy). The pre-2007 Access database format, still common in old business systems. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/mdb/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .mdb files

**.mdb file: Microsoft Access Database (legacy)**

The pre-2007 Access database format, still common in old business systems.

## What opens a .mdb file

- **Windows:** Microsoft Access, LibreOffice Base (read via ODBC), MDB Viewer tools
- **macOS:** Microsoft Access in a Windows VM (Parallels Desktop), mdbtools (via Homebrew)
- **Linux:** mdbtools (mdb-export), LibreOffice Base (with mdbtools)

## What a .mdb file is

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. There is no Access for macOS; on Linux the mdbtools utilities export the tables to CSV or SQL, which is usually enough to recover the data.

## Converting it

A .mdb file is commonly converted to .accdb, .csv, .xlsx or .sql. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.

## Details

- **Extension:** .mdb
- **Full name:** Microsoft Access Database (legacy)
- **Category:** Data
- **MIME type:** application/x-msaccess
- **Created by:** Microsoft
- **Format:** Binary

## 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

- [.csv — Comma-Separated Values](https://atoneplace.net/file/csv/)
- [.json — JavaScript Object Notation](https://atoneplace.net/file/json/)
- [.xml — Extensible Markup Language](https://atoneplace.net/file/xml/)
- [.yaml — YAML Data File](https://atoneplace.net/file/yaml/)
- [.log — Log File](https://atoneplace.net/file/log/)
- [.torrent — BitTorrent Metainfo File](https://atoneplace.net/file/torrent/)
- [.dat — Generic Data File](https://atoneplace.net/file/dat/)
- [.vcf — vCard Contact File](https://atoneplace.net/file/vcf/)
- [.sql — SQL Script](https://atoneplace.net/file/sql/)
- [.ics — iCalendar Event](https://atoneplace.net/file/ics/)
- [.sqlite — SQLite Database](https://atoneplace.net/file/sqlite/)
- [.db — Generic Database File](https://atoneplace.net/file/db/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)