.DUCKDB file extension
To open .DUCKDB files on Windows, option A (QStudio): Install QStudio and double-click the .duckdb file to open it in QStudio.
To open a .duckdb file, use DuckDB (the database engine) or a SQL tool that can connect to DuckDB, such as DBeaver (via DuckDB JDBC) or QStudio. These tools open the file by pointing the connection to the database file path.
Last updated: June 12, 2026
Open on your device
Choose your operating system for a dedicated step-by-step opening guide.
How to open .DUCKDB files
Use these platform-specific instructions to open .DUCKDB files safely.
Windows
- Option A (QStudio): Install QStudio and double-click the .duckdb file to open it in QStudio.
- Option B (DBeaver): In DBeaver, create a DuckDB connection (using DuckDB JDBC) and set the database path to your .duckdb file, then connect.
Mac
- Option A (QStudio): Install QStudio and open the .duckdb file (QStudio supports opening by double-clicking a .duckdb or .db file).
- Option B (DBeaver): In DBeaver, add a DuckDB connection (DuckDB JDBC) and choose your .duckdb file as the database path, then connect.
Linux
- Option A (DBeaver): Create a DuckDB connection in DBeaver (DuckDB JDBC) and select the .duckdb file as the database path, then connect.
- Option B (QStudio): Open the .duckdb file in QStudio (it supports DuckDB databases and can open .duckdb/.db files).
iOS
- There is no common iOS-native workflow cited in the sources for opening .duckdb files; transfer the file to a desktop system and open it with DuckDB tooling such as DBeaver or QStudio.
Android
- There is no common Android-native workflow cited in the sources for opening .duckdb files; transfer the file to a desktop system and open it with DuckDB tooling such as DBeaver or QStudio.
Security notes
- .duckdb files are parsed by DuckDB and related connectors (for example, JDBC drivers in SQL tools). Treat unknown .duckdb files as untrusted input and prefer opening them in a controlled environment, because malformed database files can trigger parser/engine bugs.
- A .duckdb file can contain sensitive data (tables and other database contents) in a single portable file. Handle it like a database backup: store it securely and avoid sharing it broadly without reviewing its contents.
If you did not expect this file
This extension is usually plain data, text, or structured content—not a program by itself. The practical risk is social engineering (a scam attachment or misleading filename). For trusted senders you rarely need heavy-handed antivirus wording; use these tools when you want an extra check on unexpected downloads.
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Can't open this file?
These are the most common causes and fixes when .DUCKDB files fail to open.
Common reasons
- Version/format compatibility error when opening the database
- File association problem (double-click doesn’t open in the right app)
- Expected a .duckdb file but got a different extension
Fix steps
- Check which DuckDB version your tool is using (for example, the DuckDB JDBC driver version in DBeaver) and try with a DuckDB version that matches the file’s origin.
- If you control the environment that created the file, open it there and follow DuckDB’s storage/compatibility guidance before moving it to another version.
OS-specific troubleshooting
What is a .DUCKDB file?
A .duckdb file is a DuckDB database stored on disk as a single file. DuckDB’s documentation describes an internal on-disk storage format with storage versions, meaning compatibility can depend on the DuckDB version that wrote the file.
Background
Because DuckDB has an explicit storage format and storage versions, opening an older/newer database file with an incompatible DuckDB version can lead to errors. When moving .duckdb files between machines, it’s common to also align DuckDB versions or follow DuckDB’s compatibility guidance.
Known aliases: .db, .ddb
Further reading
Authoritative resources for more details on the .DUCKDB format.
- Files Created by DuckDB (common extensions including .duckdb)
- Storage Versions and Format (on-disk format and compatibility considerations)
- DBeaver SQL IDE – DuckDB (opening by selecting the database file path)
- DuckDB SQL IDE – QStudio Help (double-click to open .duckdb/.db files)
- DuckDB (Wikipedia overview; single-file storage format)
- Media Types (MIME types) – IANA (to verify registered MIME types)
Common .DUCKDB issues
Version/format compatibility error when opening the database
DuckDB’s on-disk format uses storage versions, so a .duckdb file created by one DuckDB version may not open cleanly with a different version in some cases.
- Check which DuckDB version your tool is using (for example, the DuckDB JDBC driver version in DBeaver) and try with a DuckDB version that matches the file’s origin.
- If you control the environment that created the file, open it there and follow DuckDB’s storage/compatibility guidance before moving it to another version.
File association problem (double-click doesn’t open in the right app)
Some systems may not have a default app associated with .duckdb, or it may be associated with an unrelated program.
- Open QStudio first and use its open dialog to select the .duckdb file (QStudio also supports opening by double-click when associated).
- Alternatively, open the file from within DBeaver by creating a DuckDB connection and selecting the .duckdb file path.
Expected a .duckdb file but got a different extension
DuckDB commonly uses other extensions such as .db and .ddb for the same concept: the single database file on disk.
- If you received a .db or .ddb file that is a DuckDB database, try opening it the same way (selecting it as the DuckDB database path in your tool).
- If you have a file named .duckdb but tools don’t recognize it as DuckDB, verify the file truly comes from DuckDB and wasn’t renamed from another database type.
FAQ
Is .duckdb a single file database or a folder of files?
DuckDB creates a single on-disk database file, and .duckdb is one of the common extensions used for that file.
Can DBeaver open a .duckdb file?
Yes. DBeaver can connect to DuckDB via DuckDB JDBC, and you open a .duckdb database by selecting the database file path in the connection settings.
Why won’t my .duckdb file open on another computer?
DuckDB has storage versions for its on-disk format, so compatibility can depend on the DuckDB version used to create the database file. Aligning versions or following DuckDB’s storage compatibility guidance typically resolves this.
Are .duckdb and .db the same thing?
DuckDB documentation notes that common extensions for DuckDB’s database file include .duckdb, .db, and .ddb. The extension alone doesn’t guarantee it’s a DuckDB database, but these are commonly used for DuckDB.
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