What Is a VSDX File? How to Open, Edit and Convert It

A VSDX file is a diagram saved by Microsoft Visio: a flowchart, org chart, network diagram, floor plan or any other drawing made from Visio shapes. It is the default Visio format since Visio 2013, and it replaced the older binary VSD format. Technically, a .vsdx file is a ZIP package of XML files, the same approach Word uses for .docx. To open one you need Visio, Visio for the web, or another app that reads the format, such as vsdx.app on a Mac.

The rest of this guide covers what the format contains, how it compares to VSD and the other Visio extensions, and the practical ways to open a vsdx file or convert it to PDF.

What a VSDX file is used for

Visio is a diagramming program, so a .vsdx file holds a diagram rather than a document or a picture. Common examples:

Process flowcharts and cross-functional (swimlane) diagrams
Organization charts
Network and IT infrastructure diagrams
Software architecture diagrams
Office layouts and floor plans

What makes a vsdx file different from a PNG or PDF of the same diagram is that everything stays editable. Each box is a shape with its own text, size, style and data. Connectors remember which shapes they are glued to, so moving a shape drags its lines along. A file can also hold several pages, each shown as a tab at the bottom of the window.

That is why people send .vsdx files around: the recipient can change the diagram, not just look at it. It is also why the format is a problem for anyone without Visio, especially on a Mac.

VSD vs VSDX: what's the difference?

Both are Visio drawing files. The difference is how they are stored.

VSD is the older binary format, used by Visio versions up to Visio 2010. It is a proprietary binary structure that only Visio and a handful of other tools can read.
VSDX is the XML-based format introduced with Visio 2013. It follows the Open Packaging Conventions (OPC), the same packaging standard used by .docx, .xlsx and .pptx files.

For you as a user, that change has a few practical effects:

Smaller, more portable files. The XML parts are ZIP-compressed.
Easier for other software to support. Because the format is documented XML, more third-party tools can open and write .vsdx than .vsd.
More robust. A damaged binary file is often unreadable; a ZIP package with separate XML parts is easier to inspect and sometimes recover.

If someone sends you a .vsd file today, it was probably created years ago or exported for compatibility with an old Visio install. Many modern tools convert it to .vsdx when they open it.

Visio file extensions at a glance

Visio uses several related extensions. You will mostly see .vsdx and .vsd, but the others show up in shared drives and vendor downloads.

Extension	What it is	Format
.vsdx	Visio drawing (default since Visio 2013)	ZIP package of XML parts
.vsdm	Macro-enabled Visio drawing	ZIP package of XML parts, plus VBA macros
.vsd	Visio drawing (Visio 2010 and earlier)	Binary
.vssx	Visio stencil: a collection of reusable shapes	ZIP package of XML parts
.vstx	Visio template: a starting drawing with preset stencils and settings	ZIP package of XML parts
.vdx	Visio XML drawing (Visio 2003 to 2010)	Single XML file
.vss / .vst	Older binary stencil and template formats	Binary

The "x" at the end follows the same convention as Office files: it marks the newer XML-based package. An "m" marks a file that can contain macros, which is why some organizations block .vsdm attachments.

If you want to know more about stencils and templates specifically, see our guide to Visio stencils and shapes on Mac.

What's inside a .vsdx file

Because a vsdx file is a ZIP package, you can look inside it. Make a copy of the file, change the extension from .vsdx to .zip, and open it with any archive tool. You will see a folder structure roughly like this:

[Content_Types].xml lists the types of every part in the package.
_rels/ holds relationship files that tell software how the parts link together.
docProps/ stores document properties such as title, author and app information.
visio/document.xml contains document-wide settings, styles and colors.
visio/pages/ has one XML file per page (page1.xml, page2.xml and so on), plus pages.xml listing them. Each page file describes its shapes, their positions, text and connections.
visio/masters/ contains the master shapes used in the drawing. A master is the original shape definition from a stencil; shapes on the page are instances that point back to it.
visio/media/ (when present) holds embedded images.
visio/theme/ (when present) stores the theme applied to the drawing.

Shape geometry and behavior are stored as cells in what Visio calls the ShapeSheet: width, height, position, line style, formulas and so on. This is what gives Visio shapes their "smart" behavior, and it is also the part that is hardest for non-Microsoft tools to reproduce exactly.

Don't edit these XML files by hand unless you know what you're doing. Renaming back to .vsdx works only if the structure is left intact. Treat the ZIP trick as a way to inspect a file or pull out an embedded image, not as an editing method.

How to open a VSDX file

The right tool depends on your computer and whether you need to view the diagram or change it.

On Windows

Microsoft Visio opens, edits and saves .vsdx natively. It is a paid product.
Microsoft Visio Viewer is a free Windows program for viewing Visio drawings without editing them.

On a Mac

Microsoft does not make a desktop version of Visio for Mac (as of November 2026). Your options:

vsdx.app, a native Mac app that opens, edits and saves .vsdx files directly. It also opens older .vsd files by converting them into a new .vsdx copy, so your original is never overwritten. The free version opens and views files; editing needs a paid plan.
Quick Look. Once vsdx.app is installed, you can select a .vsdx file in Finder and press Space to preview it, and Finder shows thumbnails for .vsdx files.
Visio for the web in Safari or Chrome, if your Microsoft 365 subscription includes a Visio plan.
Windows in a virtual machine such as Parallels, running the Windows version of Visio.
Lucidchart, draw.io or OmniGraffle, which can import .vsdx files and convert them into their own formats.

For a step-by-step walkthrough, read how to open a VSDX file on Mac.

On the web

Visio for the web runs in the browser for Microsoft 365 users with Visio access. Lucidchart and draw.io (diagrams.net) can import .vsdx in the browser as well. Keep in mind that importing means converting: the diagram becomes a Lucidchart or draw.io document, and if you need to send a .vsdx back, you have to export again and check what changed.

How to convert a VSDX file to PDF, PNG or SVG

Converting to PDF is the most common request, usually so that someone without Visio can read the diagram or so it can go into a report.

In vsdx.app on Mac:

Open the .vsdx file (double-click it or use File > Open).
Choose the export option from the File menu.
Pick PDF, PNG or SVG.
Choose where to save the file.

You can also print the diagram or send it through the standard macOS Share menu.

In Visio on Windows or Visio for the web: use File > Save As (desktop) or the export or download options (web) and choose PDF or an image format.

With draw.io or Lucidchart: import the .vsdx, then export to PDF or an image. Check the result against the original, since imports can shift fonts, spacing or connector routing.

A quick note on which format to choose: PDF keeps text sharp and is best for documents and printing; SVG is a scalable vector image that works well on web pages and in design tools; PNG is a plain bitmap that drops into slides or chat messages without any compatibility questions.

Can you convert VSD to VSDX?

Yes. Visio itself can open a .vsd file and save it as .vsdx. On a Mac, vsdx.app opens .vsd files from Visio 2000 through 2010 (and Visio 5) and creates a new .vsdx copy for editing. Two limitations to know: connectors in an old .vsd file are not kept glued to their shapes after conversion, and embedded images appear as placeholders.

Common problems opening VSDX files

"The file won't open on my Mac." macOS has no built-in app for Visio files. Install an app that reads the format, or use Visio for the web.
The diagram looks different from the Windows version. Fonts that exist on Windows may not exist on your Mac, so text can reflow. Complex files with many masters, heavy ShapeSheet formulas or macros can also render imperfectly in tools other than Visio.
The file is a .vsdm. That is a macro-enabled drawing. Macros generally only run in Visio on Windows.
The file is actually a stencil (.vssx) or template (.vstx). These open as shape libraries or starting drawings, not finished diagrams, and not every tool supports them.

FAQ

What is a VSDX file?

A VSDX file is a Microsoft Visio drawing, the default format since Visio 2013. It stores diagrams such as flowcharts, org charts and network diagrams as a ZIP package of XML parts, so shapes, text and connectors stay editable.

How do I open a VSDX file without Visio?

On Windows, the free Microsoft Visio Viewer shows the diagram. On a Mac, use a native app such as vsdx.app, Visio for the web (with a qualifying Microsoft 365 plan), or import the file into draw.io, Lucidchart or OmniGraffle.

What's the difference between VSD and VSDX?

VSD is the older binary format used up to Visio 2010. VSDX is the newer XML-based package introduced with Visio 2013. VSDX files are compressed, better documented and supported by more third-party tools.

Is a VSDX file safe to open?

A standard .vsdx file cannot contain macros, which is why the separate .vsdm extension exists for macro-enabled drawings. As with any attachment, only open files from sources you trust.

How do I convert a VSDX file to PDF on a Mac?

Open the file in vsdx.app and export it as PDF. PDF and PNG export work in the free version; SVG export needs a paid plan. Alternatively, import it into draw.io or Lucidchart and export to PDF from there.

Can I open a VSDX file in Google Drive or Word?

Not directly. Neither Word nor Google Drive has a built-in Visio editor. You need Visio, Visio for the web, or a diagram tool that imports .vsdx.

Open your VSDX files on a Mac

If you're on a Mac and keep receiving Visio files, download vsdx.app to open them natively, preview them in Finder with Quick Look, and export to PDF, PNG or SVG. The free version opens and views any .vsdx and can export it to PDF or PNG; when you need to edit, save or export SVG, see the plans on the pricing page.

Microsoft and Visio are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. vsdx.app is not affiliated with Microsoft.