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Convert MDB to CSV

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jul 4, 2026
QUICK ANSWER
Is it possible to convert MDB to CSV?
Yes - MDB converts to CSV.

In Microsoft Access, click the table, go to External Data > Export > Text File, and choose comma-delimited with field names on the first row. MDB Viewer Plus (free, no install, Windows) provides the same export without a license. Each MDB table becomes one CSV file.

6 programs
Also to CSV: DTA · HVE · XFDF

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert MDB to CSV?

CSV is readable by every spreadsheet, database, and data-analysis tool without special drivers. Exporting MDB tables to CSV is the standard way to move data from a legacy Jet-engine database into Excel, Python, SQL Server, or any modern tool that cannot read the proprietary binary .mdb format.

How to convert MDB to CSV

Microsoft Access APP

Click the table in the Navigation Pane, go to External Data > Export > Text File, select Delimited with comma separator, and enable Include Field Names on First Row.

Microsoft Excel APP

Use Data > Get Data > From Database > From Microsoft Access Database to load a table from the .mdb, then save the workbook as .csv.

ACCDB MDB Explorer APP

Open the .mdb file, select a table, and export it as .csv.

Navicat Premium APP

Connect to the .mdb file, select the tables, and export to CSV format.

Programs that convert MDB

Microsoft Excel
Full Convert Enterprise
Navicat Premium
Microsoft Access
ACCDB MDB Explorer
Access Database Manager

About these formats

.MDB Microsoft Access Database (97-2003, Jet engine)

An MDB file is a Microsoft Access database in the old format Access used from 1992 through 2003, replaced by .accdb in Access 2007. It stores tables, queries, forms, reports, and VBA code…

Open .MDB details →
.CSV Comma-Separated Values

A CSV file stores tabular data as plain text - one row per line, values separated by commas (or semicolons in European locales). Any spreadsheet opens it: Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice…

Open .CSV details →

Quality & what to watch

  • An MDB can contain many tables - each exports to a separate CSV file; there is no single-click export for the entire database.
  • Only table data transfers; saved queries, forms, reports, macros, and VBA code have no CSV equivalent.
  • Always include field names as the first row so the receiving tool can identify each column.

Frequently asked questions

Can I export a saved Access query to CSV instead of a table?
Yes - in Microsoft Access, saved SELECT queries appear alongside tables in the Navigation Pane and export the same way.
Is there a free option without a license?
MDB Viewer Plus (Windows, free, no install required) opens .mdb files and exports any table to CSV.
What happens if the data contains commas or line breaks?
Standard export tools wrap values containing commas in double quotes, which is correct CSV formatting - check the output if your data is text-heavy.
Does this work on Mac or Linux?
The MDB Tools command mdb-export (free, open-source) exports MDB tables to CSV on macOS and Linux.