SQLite

Open and query SQLite database files directly, no server needed

SQLite is a file-based database engine. The whole database is one file on your Mac. The driver ships with TablePro, nothing to install.

Quick Setup

Click Create Connection…, select SQLite, pick the database file with Browse…, and click Save & Connect. No host, port, or credentials.

Point the path at a file that does not exist and TablePro creates the database on connect.

TablePro registers as a handler for .db, .db3, .s3db, .sl3, .sqlite, .sqlite3, and .sqlitedb files, so double-clicking one in Finder opens it directly.

SQLite connection form

Common Locations

Source	Path
Safari history	~/Library/Safari/History.db
Photos	~/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary/database/Photos.sqlite
Messages	~/Library/Messages/chat.db
Rails	./db/development.sqlite3
Django	./db.sqlite3
iOS Simulator	~/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/<device-id>/data/Containers/Data/Application/<app-id>/Documents/

The Safari, Photos, and Messages databases sit in folders macOS protects. Grant TablePro Full Disk Access in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access, then relaunch the app. Without it, opening those files fails with a permission error.

System databases may also be locked. Quit their parent app before opening.

Connection URL

sqlite:///path/to/database.db

See Connection URL Reference for all parameters.

Features

• The sidebar lists tables and views. Internal sqlite_* tables are hidden.
• Table info shows columns, constraints, indexes, foreign keys, and DDL.
• Triggers can be viewed and edited.
• A file watcher tracks the database file. When it changes on disk, the sidebar object list reloads on its own. An open data tab keeps its rows until you refresh it.

Troubleshooting

Locked database: Close other apps using the file, or check for WAL files (database.sqlite-wal, database.sqlite-shm) left by a crashed process.

Can’t open: Verify the path exists and you have read permission on the file. For a protected folder such as ~/Library/Safari, ~/Library/Messages, or the Photos library, grant Full Disk Access and relaunch TablePro.