What is the MMAP file format?
.mmap is the native file format of MindManager, a tool for brainstorming and business strategy planning originally developed by Mindjet and now maintained by Corel Corporation. .mmap files hold mind maps - diagrams that combine elements such as topics, subtopics, images, icons, relationships, callouts and attached objects to visualize ideas and connections.
Mind maps stored in .mmap files are used for presenting ideas and concepts across a wide range of workflows: business planning and strategy formulation, project management, goal setting, meeting notes, and other business processes. MindManager can also print or export map contents to PDF and other formats.
Despite appearing as a single binary file, .mmap is a ZIP archive (magic bytes 50 4B 03 04) containing a structured set of internal files:
Document.xml- the main map data encoded in MindManager's proprietary XML schemaPreview.png- a thumbnail preview of the map- XML schema definitions in the
xsd/subfolder - A
bin/folder holding embedded images, attachments and other objects
Because .mmap uses a standard ZIP container, renaming it to .zip and opening it with any archive tool reveals its internal structure without MindManager installed. The MIME type is application/vnd.mindjet.mindmanager.
.xmmap is a related variant that stores the same MindManager map data as uncompressed XML rather than a ZIP package. The .mmpt template format shares the same ZIP/XML structure as .mmap but is saved as a reusable MindManager template. Third-party tools such as XMind and ConceptDraw MINDMAP offer partial .mmap import support.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA .mmap is a data/diagram file, not an executable, so the map itself is low risk. Two cautions: it can contain EMBEDDED attachments (e.g. an attached .docx or .exe inside the ZIP package), so treat extracted attachments with the same care as any downloaded file; and avoid uploading confidential business maps to unknown online "mmap viewer/converter" sites - use MindManager or XMind locally instead. Maps are not encrypted by default, so don't rely on the format to protect sensitive plans.
Format details
in a nutshell- Memory-mapped file (programming) - In Python (numpy.memmap) and other code, .mmap sometimes labels a raw memory-mapped data dump on disk - not a mind map and not openable in MindManager.
- FreeMind/Freeplane export (rare) - Some mind-mapping tools reuse .mmap loosely, but FreeMind/Freeplane's own native extension is .mm, not .mmap.
Programs that open MMAP files
Windows3 apps
ConceptDraw MINDMAP
Paid Import MindManager files via its MindManager-exchange support; useful if you already own ConceptDraw. 
XMind
Freemium File > Import > MindManager to bring the .mmap in; strong compatibility for migrating maps. Free tier reads/edits. 
MindManager
Paid Open MindManager and use File > Open (or double-click the .mmap) - the only app with full-fidelity rendering. 30-day trial available. 
macOS2 apps
XMind
Freemium Import the MindManager map (File > Import). Best free option on macOS for reading .mmap. 
MindManager for Mac
Paid Double-click the .mmap to open in MindManager for Mac (feature set differs slightly from Windows). Trial available.
MindManager (web / Microsoft Teams app)
Paid Corel offers web/Teams editions for subscribers; open the .mmap in the browser if your license includes it. Technical details
deep spec| Container type | ZIP archive - rename to .zip to inspect contents without MindManager installed |
| Internal map data | Document.xml encoded in MindManager's proprietary XML schema |
| Thumbnail file | Preview.png embedded in the ZIP for quick map previews |
| Schema definitions | XSD files in the xsd/ subfolder define the XML element structure |
| Embedded media | Images, attachments and other objects stored in the bin/ subfolder |
| MIME type | application/vnd.mindjet.mindmanager |
| Magic bytes | 50 4B 03 04 (standard ZIP PK signature at byte offset 0) |
| Developer | Corel Corporation (formerly Mindjet) |
| Map elements | Topics, subtopics, relationships, boundaries, callouts, hyperlinks, equations and embedded images |
| Character encoding | UTF-8 declared in the XML header of Document.xml |
| Uncompressed variant | .xmmap - same map data as plain XML without ZIP compression |
| Template variant | .mmpt - same ZIP/XML structure used as a reusable MindManager template |
| Export targets | PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Project, HTML and common image formats |
| Platform support | Windows, macOS, web (Microsoft Teams add-in) |
| Third-party import | XMind and ConceptDraw MINDMAP offer partial .mmap import support |
| Released | MindManager for Windows (Mindjet, late 1990s); .mmap is the long-standing native map format |
| Specification | www.mindmanager.com |
MMAP conversions
Community Q&A
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