Why convert MDB to DB?
SQLite .db files are open-source, cross-platform, and require no server or license, making them a practical target for old Access data that needs to work on any platform. Migrating removes the Windows-only dependency on the Jet engine and makes data accessible to any programming language without Microsoft Access installed.
How to convert MDB to DB
Full Convert Enterprise APP
Set Microsoft Access as the source and SQLite as the target, select the tables, and run - all tables convert in one pass.
Navicat Premium APP
Connect to the .mdb file and use the data transfer feature to export tables to a SQLite .db file.
Microsoft Access APP
Export each table to CSV via External Data > Export > Text File, then import the CSV into SQLite using the sqlite3 command-line tool.
Programs that convert MDB
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 →
.DB
SQLite Database File
A .db file is almost always a SQLite database - the single-file format used by Android apps, browsers, and desktop programs to store their data. Open it with the free DB Browser for SQLite…
Open .DB details →Quality & what to watch
- The
.dbextension is generic - confirm the target application expects SQLite format before starting. - Only table data, column names, and basic types migrate; Access forms, reports, queries, macros, and VBA code have no SQLite equivalent.
- Access Memo and OLE Object fields map to TEXT or BLOB in SQLite - verify date values after migration, as tools differ in how they handle Access date storage.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free Windows option without an Access license?
.mdb tables to SQLite directly.Does this work on macOS or Linux?
mdb-schema and mdb-export -I sqlite) with the sqlite3 CLI; install mdbtools via Homebrew on macOS or apt on Ubuntu.
