Data file
What is a .mdb file?
A .mdb file is a Microsoft Access Database File (version 2.0). This is a data file — structured information used by a program rather than read directly. Confusingly, this extension has been used by 10 different formats over the years — they're all listed below.
This extension has been used by more than one format
10 different formats have claimed .mdb over the years, so two files with the same extension aren't necessarily the same kind of thing.
- Microsoft Access Database FileVersion 2.0 · x-fmt/66
- Microsoft Access Database FileVersion 95 · x-fmt/238
- Microsoft Access Database FileVersion 97 · x-fmt/239
- Microsoft Access Database FileVersion 2000 · x-fmt/240
- Microsoft Access Database FileVersion 2002 · x-fmt/241
- Microsoft Access Database FileVersion 1.0 · fmt/1805
- Microsoft Access Database FileVersion 1.1 · fmt/1806
- Microsoft Access Encrypted Database FileVersion 1.0 · fmt/1807
- Microsoft Access Encrypted Database FileVersion 1.1 · fmt/1808
- Microsoft Access Encrypted Database FileVersion 2.0 · fmt/1809
How to open a .mdb file
- Start with the program that produced it; that's almost always the right tool.
- Open it in a text editor to see whether it's readable text or binary.
- For database formats, DB Browser for SQLite or LibreOffice Base can often import it.
The registry records this extension against Microsoft Access Database File, Microsoft Access Database File, Microsoft Access Database File and others, so software from that family is the most likely match.
How to convert a .mdb file
- If you can view the data, exporting to .csv is usually the most portable option.
The technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .mdb.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Access Database File | 2.0 | — | x-fmt/66 |
| Microsoft Access Database File | 95 | — | x-fmt/238 |
| Microsoft Access Database File | 97 | — | x-fmt/239 |
| Microsoft Access Database File | 2000 | — | x-fmt/240 |
| Microsoft Access Database File | 2002 | — | x-fmt/241 |
| Microsoft Access Database File | 1.0 | — | fmt/1805 |
| Microsoft Access Database File | 1.1 | — | fmt/1806 |
| Microsoft Access Encrypted Database File | 1.0 | — | fmt/1807 |
| Microsoft Access Encrypted Database File | 1.1 | — | fmt/1808 |
| Microsoft Access Encrypted Database File | 2.0 | — | fmt/1809 |