What is a .sqlite file?
SQLite Database · Data · D. Richard Hipp · 2000
A SQLite file is a complete SQL database stored in a single file. It is the most widely deployed database in the world, embedded in phones, browsers and countless apps, so a .sqlite or .db is usually an application's local data.
What is a .sqlite file used for?
SQLite is a self-contained, serverless database: instead of running a database server, an app just reads and writes one ordinary file that holds all the tables and rows.
That simplicity made it ubiquitous. Your phone, your browser's history and bookmarks, and a huge number of desktop and mobile apps all keep their data in SQLite files, often named .sqlite, .sqlite3 or just .db.
To look inside one, use the free DB Browser for SQLite, the sqlite3 command-line tool, or a database GUI like DBeaver. They let you browse tables and run queries.
It is a binary file, but well structured, and every file starts with the text 'SQLite format 3', which is how tools recognise it.
How to open a .sqlite file
The .sqlite format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list.
Windows
- DB Browser for SQLite
- DBeaver
- sqlite3 CLI
macOS
- DB Browser for SQLite
- DBeaver
- sqlite3 CLI
Linux
- DB Browser for SQLite
- sqlite3 CLI
- DBeaver
Web
- In-browser SQLite viewers
How to convert a .sqlite file
You can convert a .sqlite file to CSV, SQL, JSON using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.sqlite file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .sqlite file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for SQLite. For a full breakdown, see the SQLite file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 53 51 4C 69 74 65 20 66 6F 72 6D 61 74 20 33 00 | 0 | 'SQLite format 3\0' |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .sqlite file?
A SQLite file is a complete SQL database stored in a single file. It is the most widely deployed database in the world, embedded in phones, browsers and countless apps, so a .sqlite or .db is usually an application's local data.
How do I open a SQLite file?
Use the free DB Browser for SQLite to browse its tables visually, or the sqlite3 command-line tool to run queries. Database GUIs like DBeaver open them too.
Is a .db file the same as a .sqlite file?
Often, yes. Many programs save their SQLite database with a .db extension. Not every .db is SQLite though, so check the first bytes: a SQLite file begins with 'SQLite format 3'.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: