Opening files

vsdx.app is built around the Visio file format. This page covers every way to get a diagram into the app.

Open a .vsdx file

.vsdx is the file format used by Visio 2013 and later. vsdx.app opens these files natively. Any of these work:

• Double-click the file in Finder.
• In the app, press ⌘O and choose the file.
• Drag the file onto the vsdx icon in the Dock.
• Right-click the file in Finder and choose Open With > vsdx.

To make vsdx.app the default app for .vsdx files, select a file in Finder, press ⌘I to open Get Info, choose vsdx under Open with, and click Change All.

When you save a .vsdx file, vsdx.app keeps the parts of the file you didn't change as they were. That makes it safe to edit a diagram someone sent you and send it back.

Open older .vsd files

.vsd is the older binary format used by Visio 2000 to 2010 (and Visio 5). vsdx.app can open these too, but it handles them differently:

• The file is converted into a new .vsdx copy, and you edit the copy.
• Your original .vsd file is never overwritten.

A few things to know about converted .vsd files:

• Connectors keep their position but are no longer glued to shapes, so they won't follow when you move a shape. You can reconnect them in a few clicks.
• Embedded images show up as placeholders.

Import Mermaid and draw.io

If your diagrams live somewhere else, you can bring them in:

• Mermaid: import Mermaid diagram code, such as flowcharts written in Markdown documentation.
• draw.io: import diagrams made in draw.io (diagrams.net).

Imported diagrams become regular shapes and connectors, so you can edit them like anything else and save the result as .vsdx. This is a handy way to turn a quick text sketch or an old draw.io file into a Visio file you can share with colleagues who use Visio.

Quick Look in Finder

Once vsdx.app is installed, Finder understands .vsdx files:

• Thumbnails: .vsdx files show a preview of the diagram instead of a generic icon.
• Quick Look: select a .vsdx file and press Space to preview it without opening the app.

This is useful for finding the right diagram in a folder full of files. If thumbnails don't appear right after installing, open vsdx.app once and then return to Finder.

Read-only in the free version

The free version of vsdx.app opens and displays all supported files, but in read-only mode. You don't need to sign in. You can view pages, zoom, look at every shape, copy, print, share, and export to PDF or PNG, but you can't edit, save changes, or export SVG.

That makes the free version a good Visio viewer for the Mac. When you need to make changes, upgrade on the pricing page and sign in. See Account and billing for details.

Things that aren't supported

• Copying and pasting between two different documents isn't supported yet. Copy and paste within the same document works normally.
• Only .vsdx and .vsd are supported as Visio formats, plus Mermaid and draw.io imports.

Next steps

• Editing diagrams: what you can do once a file is open.
• Export and share: save and send your work.