{"id":2965200,"date":"2026-06-03T05:00:33","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T12:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2965200"},"modified":"2026-06-03T05:31:21","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T12:31:21","slug":"convert-personal-geodatabase-arcgis-pro","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/data-management\/convert-personal-geodatabase-arcgis-pro","title":{"rendered":"Convert a personal geodatabase in ArcGIS Pro 3.7 with a new built-in tool"},"author":12901,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[37501,37101,23851],"tags":[42181,25381,24321,764322,23571],"industry":[],"product":[421922,36561],"class_list":["post-2965200","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-administration","category-announcements","category-data-management","tag-arcgis-pro","tag-geodatabase","tag-geoprocessing","tag-personal-geodatabase","tag-whats-new","product-arcgis","product-arcgis-pro"],"acf":{"short_description":"Convert .mdb files directly in ArcGIS Pro with a new tool that makes migrating personal geodatabases simple.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

If you’ve worked with ArcGIS long enough, there’s a good chance you’ve come across data stored in a personal geodatabase (.mdb) that you need to use in ArcGIS Pro.<\/p>\n

ArcGIS Pro has never supported personal geodatabases, and for years that meant maintaining long\u2011standing workflows with Microsoft Access databases or relying on ArcMap while also trying to move data forward.<\/p>\n

As ArcGIS Pro evolved toward more modern, scalable data models and formats, ArcMap and personal geodatabases reached the end of their lifecycles, leaving a clear gap for anyone still working with .mdb files.\u00a0 Users weren’t just looking for another workaround, they asked for a more direct, reliable path forward in ArcGIS Pro.<\/p>\n

With the ArcGIS Pro 3.7 release, that path leads us to the new Convert Personal Geodatabase<\/strong> tool.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2968509,"id":2968509,"title":"ConvertPersonalGeodatabase_GPTool","filename":"ConvertPersonalGeodatabase_GPTool.jpg","filesize":118856,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ConvertPersonalGeodatabase_GPTool.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/data-management\/convert-personal-geodatabase-arcgis-pro\/convertpersonalgeodatabase_gptool","alt":"The Convert Personal Geodatabase geoprocessing tool is accessible from the Analysis ribbon, and the Tools button.","author":"12901","description":"The Convert Personal Geodatabase geoprocessing tool is accessible from the Analysis ribbon, and the Tools button.","caption":"The Convert Personal Geodatabase geoprocessing tool is accessible from the Analysis ribbon, and the Tools button.","name":"convertpersonalgeodatabase_gptool","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2965200,"date":"2026-06-01 21:45:37","modified":"2026-06-01 21:50:02","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":796,"height":524,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ConvertPersonalGeodatabase_GPTool-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ConvertPersonalGeodatabase_GPTool.jpg","medium-width":396,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ConvertPersonalGeodatabase_GPTool.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":506,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ConvertPersonalGeodatabase_GPTool.jpg","large-width":796,"large-height":524,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ConvertPersonalGeodatabase_GPTool.jpg","1536x1536-width":796,"1536x1536-height":524,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ConvertPersonalGeodatabase_GPTool.jpg","2048x2048-width":796,"2048x2048-height":524,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ConvertPersonalGeodatabase_GPTool-706x465.jpg","card_image-width":706,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ConvertPersonalGeodatabase_GPTool.jpg","wide_image-width":796,"wide_image-height":524}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ConvertPersonalGeodatabase_GPTool.jpg"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

A wind turbine may look simple from a distance, however, it relies on a complex internal process to convert wind into reliable, usable energy that can be distributed where it is needed. In much the same way, the Convert Personal Geodatabase<\/strong> tool handles complex data processing behind the scenes, converting a single input database file into a modern, usable geodatabase that is ready to use in ArcGIS Pro or shared across your organization.<\/p>\n

With this tool, you can migrate your data by converting a personal geodatabase or Microsoft Access database to a file, mobile, or enterprise geodatabase. It removes the need for ArcMap and provides a way to seamlessly move your data into supported, modern formats directly in ArcGIS Pro, without additional licensing.<\/p>\n

Just open the tool, select your input database, choose an output format, and run it.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s it!<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Watch this short video created in ArcGIS Pro 3.7 for a quick\u00a0overview,\u00a0or\u00a0keep\u00a0reading\u00a0for more details.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"kaltura","video_id":"1_35ui0nb4","time":false,"start":0},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Why\u00a0<\/span>this matters<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

For a long time, working with personal geodatabases in ArcGIS Pro meant stitching together indirect workflows,\u00a0connecting through OLE DB, exporting data in pieces, or keeping ArcMap installed longer than planned.<\/p>\n

Those approaches helped move things forward, but with ArcMap officially retired in March 2026,\u00a0many of those old methods no longer work. What once served as a workaround has now become a roadblock.<\/p>\n

The Convert Personal Geodatabase<\/strong> tool changes that by providing a direct, reliable way to bring your data into ArcGIS Pro without relying on legacy workflows. Before getting started, there are a few requirements to be aware of.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Prerequisites<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Only personal geodatabases created with ArcGIS Desktop version 10.x and later are supported for use with the Convert Personal Geodatabase tool.<\/p>\n

The tool requires the 64-bit version of the Microsoft Access database engine to read the .mdb or .accdb file. Many systems already include this driver, but if it\u2019s missing, ArcGIS Pro will prompt you to install it when you run the tool.<\/p>\n

Learn how to Check for and install drivers.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Usage<\/span><\/a> section in the Convert Personal Geodatabase<\/a> geoprocessing tool topic contains the complete list of usage notes when using this tool.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Use the Convert Personal Geodatabase tool<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n

There are two main options to\u00a0convert a personal geodatabase in ArcGIS Pro,\u00a0depending on where you want your data to go.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n