Browse Microsoft Access Schemas on Any Operating System

Build a clearer workflow for Microsoft Access: reverse engineer existing schemas into interactive ER diagrams, model changes visually, and generate reviewed SQL scripts before deployment.

DbSchema is built for visual modeling, schema documentation, and deployment. Keep an offline model in Git, collaborate across teams, and publish documentation that developers, analysts, and stakeholders can navigate in minutes.

Download DbSchema See Microsoft Access Features Download Microsoft Access JDBC Driver · All drivers

What happens after you download?

Get to your first Microsoft Access schema diagram in minutes. No account, no credit card.

Install in minutes

Download the installer for Windows, macOS, or Linux and launch DbSchema. No signup required.

Connect to Microsoft Access or open a sample

Reverse engineer an existing Microsoft Access database or open a sample model to explore tables, relationships, and indexes.

Design, document, and deploy

Edit schema visually, generate documentation, and prepare reviewed migration scripts for safer releases.

Get Started Free

Cross-Platform Schema Exploration for Microsoft Access Databases

Microsoft Access databases — stored as .mdb or .accdb files — are common in small business applications, internal tools, and legacy systems that were never migrated to a server-based database. A key limitation of Access is that the built-in relationship visualizer only runs on Windows with Microsoft Office installed. DbSchema opens Access files on any operating system using the UCanAccess JDBC driver, making schema visualization and documentation available to developers regardless of platform.

Download DbSchema Free See Microsoft Access Features

Open Access Files and Explore Schema on Any OS

DbSchema's connection wizard supports Microsoft Access out of the box. Select the Access file path, and DbSchema reads the table and relationship definitions using UCanAccess — no Microsoft Office, JET engine, or Windows ODBC configuration required. The schema is displayed as an interactive ER diagram immediately.

Opening a Microsoft Access database file in DbSchema's connection wizard

Table Editor for Access Schema Inspection and Modification

Once connected, DbSchema lets you inspect and edit Access table structures: adding columns, changing data types, and reviewing primary key and foreign key constraints. This is useful for developers maintaining legacy Access applications or preparing the schema specification for a migration to a server-side database.

Editing a Microsoft Access table structure in DbSchema

Schema Documentation for Access Databases

DbSchema generates HTML documentation from an Access schema, covering table structures, field types, relationships, and indexes. For small businesses migrating away from Access, this documentation serves as a baseline specification for the replacement database schema and preserves institutional knowledge about the existing data model.

Auto-generated schema documentation for a Microsoft Access database in DbSchema

Set Up an Access Connection in DbSchema

Getting from an .accdb or .mdb file to a browsable diagram takes only a few steps:

Grab the free installer for Windows, macOS, or Linux; no account signup is needed to start.
Start a new connection and pick Microsoft Access as the database type; DbSchema fetches the UCanAccess JDBC driver automatically, so nothing needs to be installed by hand.
Browse to the local .mdb or .accdb file path. The connection resolves to a JDBC URL of the form jdbc:ucanaccess:///path/to/database.accdb.
If the file is password-protected, append ;jackcessOpener=... with the matching password handler class before connecting.
Connect — DbSchema reads the table and relationship definitions and lays out the first ER diagram.

Because UCanAccess is a pure-Java driver, none of the above needs the JET engine, Windows ODBC configuration, or a Microsoft Office install, which is what lets the same steps work unchanged on macOS and Linux.

Why DbSchema for Microsoft Access

Open and visualize Access files on macOS, Linux, or Windows without Microsoft Office
Document Access schemas as a starting point for database migration projects
Edit table structures and explore data from a modern, cross-platform GUI
Generate shareable ER diagrams for legacy Access applications
Identify undocumented relationships in inherited Access databases

Have an old .accdb file with no diagram to explain it? Download DbSchema for free and turn that Access file into a browsable ER diagram on the OS of your choice, no Office install required.

Teams working with Microsoft Access often use these engines too. Explore dedicated guides and JDBC setup for each.