# I can't open my .gramps files on a new mac **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Created:** [April 28, 2025, 1:28pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551 "2025-04-28T13:28:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rwitter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@rwitter](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/rwitter)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 1:28pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551/1 "2025-04-28T13:28:33Z")
I began using gramps a few months ago for a research and book project. I recently updated to a new computer, Mac OS Sequoia and have installed Gramps 6.0. The application will not open my .gramps files. I see some points online about changing the database path and I tried that but it’s not working. Can anyone offer help? ---
**Author:** ![anon44746896](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e99b99/32.png) [@anon44746896](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/anon44746896)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 1:43pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551/2 "2025-04-28T13:43:45Z")
> [@rwitter](#): > > I recently updated to a new computer Can you confirm you restored your [back up](https://gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php/Gramps_6.0_Wiki_Manual_-_Manage_Family_Trees#Backing_up_a_Family_Tree) from the old computer? - [How to restore a backup](https://gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php/How_to_restore_a_backup) ---
**Author:** ![emyoulation](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/emyoulation/32/67_2.png) [@emyoulation](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/emyoulation)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 2:57pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551/3 "2025-04-28T14:57:27Z")
> [@rwitter](#): > > The application will not open my .gramps files. It is not typical to “open” `.gramps` (or `.gpkg` archives with media) files. These are the backup files and are _ **imported** _ into a new tree. The working files are SQLite database files which are “loaded” using the Family Trees manager. These SQLite folders are located in the database path folder. It is preferable to leave this “database path” in the default location unless there is a special need. (Such as: automated backup that requires folders to be in a paticular location; multiple users/workstations using a common network location.) Copying the database folder on the old machine to the new computer would have moved the trees… but not the media objects. However, you may be asking about “associating” an unknown filetype with a particular application on your new computer. ## About setting filetypes to open with a particular macOS application > Perplexity summary of that process: To open an unknown filetype with a specific application on macOS and set that application as the default for that filetype, follow these steps: **Opening an Unknown Filetype with a Specific Application** - Right-click (or Control-click) the file in Finder. - Select “Open With” and choose your desired application from the list, or select “Other…” to pick an app not listed. If the app is greyed out, change the “Enable:” dropdown to “All Applications” to select any installed app[6][9]. **Making the Application the Default for the Filetype** - Right-click (or Control-click) the file and select “Get Info.” - In the Info window, find the “Open with:” section. - Choose your preferred application from the dropdown menu. If it’s not listed, select “Other…” and pick the app. - Click the “Change All…” button below the dropdown to set this application as the default for all files with the same extension. - Confirm when prompted[6][7][9]. > Note: This process works for files with a specific extension. macOS does not provide a built-in way to set a default app for all unknown filetypes or all files without an extension; you must repeat the process for each unique extension[2][4][5]. If you frequently encounter many unknown extensions, consider using a third-party tool like RCDefaultApp (if compatible with your macOS version) to manage associations by MIME type or UTI, or create an Automator service to quickly open files with your chosen application[2][5]. Citations: [1] [macos - On Mac, how can I set a default program to open \*all\* unknown files? - Super User](https://superuser.com/questions/1006674/on-mac-how-can-i-set-a-default-program-to-open-all-unknown-files) [2] [macos - How to setup a specific application to open all files with unknown extension - Ask Different](https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/206974/how-to-setup-a-specific-application-to-open-all-files-with-unknown-extension) [3] [Safely open apps on your Mac - Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102445) [4] [macos - mac default application for any unknown extension - Stack Overflow](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/38086019/mac-default-application-for-any-unknown-extension) [5] [Reddit - The heart of the internet](https://www.reddit.com/r/osx/comments/3zhdab/set_default_unknown_file_extension_andor_no/) [6] [How to Change a File Type's Default App in macOS - MacRumors](https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/change-a-files-default-app-in-macos/) [7] [KB Parallels: Change the default application for a file type in macOS](https://kb.parallels.com/122949/) [8] [Can’t Open a Specific File in OS X? Search the Mac App Store Quickly to Find an App That Can](https://osxdaily.com/2015/02/25/find-mac-app-that-can-open-file-type-os-x/) [9] [How to set default apps on Mac | iMore](https://www.imore.com/how-set-mac-app-default-when-opening-file) [10] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Y3UjqzCMk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Y3UjqzCMk) * * * Answer from Perplexity: [https://www.perplexity.ai/search/as-an-expert-in-the-macos-gui-2nJLpt9aSHKh9pa5Wl5nsQ?utm\_source=copy\_output](https://www.perplexity.ai/search/as-an-expert-in-the-macos-gui-2nJLpt9aSHKh9pa5Wl5nsQ?utm_source=copy_output) ---
**Author:** ![rwitter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@rwitter](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/rwitter)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551/4 "2025-04-28T17:30:54Z")
This worked. Thank you very much. I was going in circles. ---
**Author:** ![rwitter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@rwitter](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/rwitter)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551/5 "2025-04-28T17:32:37Z")
Thank you for the help on this, including explaining the vocabulary. I was able to restore the files. I’ll see if I need to reset the database path. ---
**Author:** ![emyoulation](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/emyoulation/32/67_2.png) [@emyoulation](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/emyoulation)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551/6 "2025-04-28T18:36:35Z")
> [@rwitter](#): > > I’ll see if I need to reset the database path. Congratulations about restoring those backup files! If you reset that database path _AFTER_ having imported. You will need to move the files in the old path to the new path. ---
**Author:** ![emyoulation](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/emyoulation/32/67_2.png) [@emyoulation](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/emyoulation)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 1:36pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551/9 "2026-06-18T13:36:26Z")
@npaisnel reported (on Facebook) trying the “Open with” of a `.gpkg` archive and having Gramps refuse to open the filetype. (He has Mac, Linux and Windows and was unsure which … or if all… OS failed. The captures below appear to be from macOS ) Is this normal for macOS? ## Choosing a .gpkg (that he generated himself) to “Open With” (with the Gramps app not started) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/gramps/original/2X/b/b3d3a18595dba861d33cec6f931a16fd314fa4fb.jpeg) ### Specifying which App to use to open ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/gramps/original/2X/2/207c7f30d15dc214b5aa35f5efbfd5161d787a73.jpeg) The OS error message: opening `.gpkg` ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/gramps/original/2X/a/a2c99fc78e81936f0fe2a086de1cf3e0fccf82e7.jpeg) opening `.gramps` ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/gramps/original/2X/4/478692292f6849d4ea91b3dea51b24d40ff9b06d.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![npaisnel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f1d935/32.png) [@npaisnel](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/npaisnel)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 2:43pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551/10 "2026-06-18T14:43:25Z")
It does it with both `.gpkg` and `.gramps` extension files Gramps 6.0.8 and OSX Tahoe ![Screenshot 2026-06-18 at 15.41.37.png](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/gramps/original/2X/b/bad7d2735d34ba2a692f6ca43528ca79c6251b86.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![npaisnel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f1d935/32.png) [@npaisnel](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/npaisnel)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 3:19pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551/11 "2026-06-18T15:19:10Z")
Geneweb file type too ![Screenshot 2026-06-18 at 16.17.04](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/gramps/original/2X/f/f31d7daf663c6b0329e0071a7c7100d1b4d34b91.jpeg) ![Screenshot 2026-06-18 at 16.17.16](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/gramps/original/2X/0/093ec783d0cc33e65d58f37b3e5c617b82361ab9.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![npaisnel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f1d935/32.png) [@npaisnel](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/npaisnel)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551/12 "2026-06-18T15:21:07Z")
They do all correctly import if a new Family Tree is created blank and Imported via the menu system ---
**Author:** ![emyoulation](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/emyoulation/32/67_2.png) [@emyoulation](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/emyoulation)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 3:29pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551/13 "2026-06-18T15:29:30Z")
It is predictable that if the main 2 filetypes the Gramps supports are not registered as compatible with Gramps on macOS, then all the other core supported types will have the same issue. I have certainly had problem understanding how to ensure an Importer addon can add a file extension/type to the File Selector filter and the ‘known types’ list. (Currently, I have experiments in progress with Tab Separated Values `.tsv`, and DoroTree `.dte`. And addons that compete with built-ins new revisions to `.vcf`, and `.csv`) ---
**Author:** ![npaisnel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f1d935/32.png) [@npaisnel](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/npaisnel)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 8:21pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551/14 "2026-06-18T20:21:12Z")
Just home from the farm and gardening and other after works sewing machine repair stuff and ha a chance to try with the iMac running Linux Mint Open with …Gramps works fine and imports the exported file correctly Alos tried on the Galaxy Tab running Win 10 Pro and that too imports correctly with “Open With”. So yes it is just Mac OSx issue rather me not k owing how to do things… The little Win 10 Galaxy Tab is now no longer seeing network computers..and it is not being seen by other machines…so now another issue to fix! ;). It was workmen a few days ago..bloody Windows… ---
**Author:** ![emyoulation](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/emyoulation/32/67_2.png) [@emyoulation](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/emyoulation)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 8:53pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551/15 "2026-06-18T20:53:04Z")
With Windows network drives, Mapping a drive letter to the resource has always offered the most stability and compatibility. (That has been true since the Windows for Workgroups and Window NT era … around 1992. That’s nearly a decade before Gramps was even a glimmer in Don Allingham’s eye. Every new release claims that that problem is a thing of the past. And within months of release, the general public is nudged back to the old reliable workaround That’s been a third of a century of persistence.) ---
**Author:** ![trlvn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/trlvn/32/1148_2.png) [@trlvn](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/trlvn)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 12:00am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551/16 "2026-06-19T00:00:51Z")
What happens if you start Gramps and then drag either the .gpkg or .gramps files from the Finder onto the Gramps icon on the Dock? Craig ---
**Author:** ![npaisnel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f1d935/32.png) [@npaisnel](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/npaisnel)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 5:19am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551/17 "2026-06-19T05:19:18Z")
I just tried And nothing happens, with Gramps running or closed BUT… If you drag and drop into an open instance of Gramps ..and have the Family Tree manager window open, and drop on that, then the green cross appears and it instantly imports to the manager ---
**Author:** ![npaisnel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f1d935/32.png) [@npaisnel](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/npaisnel)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 5:26am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/i-cant-open-my-gramps-files-on-a-new-mac/7551/18 "2026-06-19T05:26:42Z")
Networking…Brian…seems SMB is working, the discovery is “broken” if I type \192.168.1.145 or what ever in to the address bar or run window, it displays the shared folders fine.. It is a non- issue really ..I was given the Galaxy Pro with Win10 last week or so..its only purpose is really to run QDSLR Dashboard, a camera control software to run 24-36 hour time lapse sequences for exposure control during sunset/sunrise. I only put Gramps on it to see. When I was given the Galaxy, I was also given an M1 MacBook, so with a £30 AliExpress battery, the m1 is now working again and is my Gramps machine. It does me a full day on the battery. Never had a machine do that before! Last new computer I bought was 2008…I am happy to run on free throw-outs now and be a bit behind the times This 2020 M1 Mac book is my most modern machine