How to open a .mbtiles file (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Q: Why can't I open my .mbtiles file?

Usually your computer lacks an app that understands MBTiles. Install one of the apps listed here, or convert the file to a more common format.

A .mbtiles file is a MBTiles Map Tileset. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads MBTiles yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.

Open a .mbtiles file step by step

Confirm the file really is a .mbtiles. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
On Windows, open it with QGIS or tileserver-gl.
On Mac, use QGIS or tileserver-gl.
On Linux, try QGIS or tileserver-gl.
Still stuck? Convert the .mbtiles to png/jpg tiles (extract), which opens more widely.

Best apps to open .mbtiles files

Windows

QGIS
tileserver-gl
DB Browser for SQLite (inspect)

macOS

QGIS
tileserver-gl
DB Browser for SQLite

Linux

QGIS
tileserver-gl
sqlite3

Before you open it: Safe. An .mbtiles file is a database of map images and metadata; it does not execute.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I open my .mbtiles file?

Almost always because no installed app understands MBTiles. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.

How do I open an .mbtiles file?

QGIS opens it directly as a raster or vector tile layer. To serve it as a live map, point tileserver-gl or a MapLibre-based viewer at the file.

Why does my .mbtiles map look upside down or misplaced?

MBTiles stores rows in TMS order (flipped Y) while many web tools expect XYZ. Viewers that ignore the difference draw tiles at mirrored positions; use a tool that handles the scheme.