Free online SQLITE to DB converter

A device or application may require a database file ending in .db even though the existing SQLite database uses .sqlite or .sqlite3. If the receiving software also uses SQLite, copying the file and changing its extension is usually sufficient; a different database engine requires an actual data migration.

What the SQLITE format is

SQLite is a self-contained relational database engine. It stores tables, indexes, views, triggers, and metadata in one portable disk file, commonly named with the .sqlite, .sqlite3, or .db extension.

Mobile applications, desktop programs, web browsers, embedded devices, and development tools use SQLite when they need local storage without a separate database server. The SQLite command-line shell, DB Browser for SQLite, SQLiteStudio, and programming libraries such as Python's sqlite3 module can open these files.

What the DB format is

.db is a filename extension rather than one defined database format. A .db file may be a SQLite database, an application-specific database, or a database created by another engine such as Microsoft Access or SQL Anywhere. The extension alone does not identify its internal structure.

When .db means a SQLite file for the receiving application, its advantages are the same as SQLite's: a portable single-file database, no server installation, and support for transactions and standard relational objects. Renaming the file can also satisfy software that filters filenames by extension. It does not change the schema, encoding, SQL dialect, storage engine, or compatibility with another database system.

How to convert SQLITE to DB

For a SQLite-compatible target, this is normally a filename change. Close applications that use the database, keep the original as a backup, and copy the file rather than overwriting it. On Linux or macOS, run:

cp database.sqlite database.db

On Windows, use File Explorer's rename command or run:

copy database.sqlite database.db

Open the new file with DB Browser for SQLite through File → Open Database, or check it with the SQLite shell:

sqlite3 database.db "PRAGMA integrity_check;"

A healthy database normally returns ok. Renaming does not alter the file contents, so it cannot repair corruption or make a non-SQLite database compatible with SQLite.

To create a new SQLite file instead of making a direct copy, use SQLite's backup operation:

sqlite3 database.sqlite ".backup 'database.db'"

The backup operation copies the database into a new SQLite file and is preferable when the source uses write-ahead logging or may be accessed by another process. For a logical rebuild, export and execute SQL:

sqlite3 database.sqlite ".dump" | sqlite3 database.db

A dump recreates tables, indexes, triggers, views, and stored records through SQL. It may not preserve every internal detail, unused page, or engine-level setting, so the backup operation is generally the closer copy.

For a no-installation option, the file can be submitted to the free converter on 101convert.com. Confirm that its output is a SQLite database with the filename and structure required by the receiving program, and avoid uploading confidential data unless its handling is acceptable.

When the target uses another database engine

Changing .sqlite to .db does not convert SQLite data into another engine's format. First identify the target system and its import method. Export the SQLite database as SQL with:

sqlite3 database.sqlite ".output export.sql" ".dump" ".quit"

Review and adapt export.sql before importing it. SQL syntax, data types, Boolean representation, date storage, quoting rules, autoincrement behavior, indexes, foreign keys, and transaction commands vary between engines. A program-specific .db file must be created with that program's importer, database driver, documented API, or a migration tool; a generic extension change is not enough.

Quality and compatibility checks

Run PRAGMA integrity_check; on the source and preserve the original file. SQLite databases using WAL mode may have accompanying database.sqlite-wal and database.sqlite-shm files. Close the application before copying, or use the SQLite backup operation so committed data in the WAL is included.

After conversion or migration, check table and row counts, representative records, indexes, triggers, views, foreign-key behavior, and application-specific metadata. SQLite's flexible type affinity means that dates, Boolean values, and some numeric values may be stored as text or integers; importing them into a stricter engine can change their interpretation. Encryption, extensions, custom collations, and virtual tables may also require separate target-system support.