Access database guides

Open, inspect, and convert MDB/ACCDB files

These guides cover the common jobs people need after receiving an old Microsoft Access database: open it without Access, check the tables, export CSV files, and decide when a full Access installation is still required.

How to Open an MDB File on Mac

Microsoft Access does not run natively on macOS, but you can still inspect old Access databases, export table data, and move the data into modern tools.

Updated: 2026-07-07

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How to Convert MDB or ACCDB to CSV

CSV is the easiest bridge from Access databases to modern spreadsheets, scripts, and SQL databases. The main thing to remember is that each Access table becomes its own CSV file.

Updated: 2026-07-07

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How to Open an ACCDB File Without Microsoft Access

ACCDB is the newer Microsoft Access format. You can often view and export its tables without Access, but full Access applications still need Microsoft Access.

Updated: 2026-07-07

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MDB vs ACCDB: What Is the Difference?

MDB and ACCDB are both Microsoft Access database formats, but they belong to different Access generations and have different compatibility limits.

Updated: 2026-07-07

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MDB File Won't Open: Common Causes and Fixes

When an Access file fails to open, the problem is usually password protection, corruption, a renamed file, unsupported Access objects, or a file that is too large for browser memory.

Updated: 2026-07-07

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Export Access Data to SQLite or PostgreSQL

Moving from Access to SQLite or PostgreSQL is mostly a table export and validation job. The hard part is preserving relationships, data types, and application assumptions.

Updated: 2026-07-07

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Read MDB Files with mdb-tools

mdb-tools is a practical command-line toolkit for old Access databases, especially when you need repeatable exports or many files.

Updated: 2026-07-07

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