Open a SQLite file, browse it, and ask it questions.
Valv Desktop opens .db, .sqlite, and .sqlite3 files on your machine. Browse tables, filter and export them, and ask the coding agent you already use what is in the data. The file is never uploaded.
Free for personal use. For macOS, Windows, and Linux. Jump to the steps.
How to open it
From a .db file to your first table in four steps.
There is no connection string or password. You point Valv at the file.
- 1
Install Valv Desktop.
Download it for macOS, Windows, or Linux. During setup you can pick an AI agent or skip that step and use Valv as a plain viewer.
- 2
Add a SQLite datasource.
Add a datasource and choose SQLite. On first launch, this is the Connect a database step.
- 3
Pick the file.
Click Open and select the database file, or paste its path. Any extension works. Select Test to check it opens, then Continue.
~/projects/app/data.sqlite3 - 4
Open a table, or ask.
Tables and views appear in the sidebar. Click one to see its rows. If you picked an agent, ask a question about the data instead.
What tables are in here, and what does each one store?
What you can do once it is open.
Look around by hand, or hand the question to an agent. Both read the same file, and neither changes it.
Browse tables without writing SQL.
Rows load 100 at a time with an exact row count. Sort, filter by column, follow foreign keys to the related row, and save rows as CSV.
Get counts and totals without writing SQL.
Ask which album has the most tracks, or how many orders came in last week. The agent queries the file through Valv and cites the query behind each number.
10 rows · Read-only
Ask about a file you have never seen.
Unknown schema, cryptic column names? Ask the agent. It looks at the tables, queries them, and answers with tables or a chart, citing the query behind each answer. Valv uses the CLI you already have: Claude Code, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Grok, or OpenCode.
Your file stays untouched.
Valv reads the database. Nothing in Valv writes to it. You can't edit rows by accident, and the agent has no insert, update, or delete tools, so it can't change the file either.
The file stays on your machine.
Valv reads the SQLite file directly from disk. There is no upload and no Valv server between you and the data.
No AI needed to look.
The table viewer works without an agent. Nothing about the file leaves your machine unless you use chat.
You decide what the agent sees.
Hide tables or columns from the agent before you ask. When you use chat, the allowed schema, your question, and the results it needs go through the agent account you picked.
SQLite paths are machine-specific, so a SQLite datasource is not shared by default when you sync a workspace with your team.
Which SQLite viewer fits your job.
For a one-time peek, an online viewer is the fastest option. To build or restructure a database by hand, DB Browser for SQLite is a solid free tool. Valv is for when you want to understand the data and would rather ask than write every query.
| Online viewer | DB Browser for SQLite | Valv Desktop | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where the file is read | In your browser. Many viewers do not upload it, but check each site. | Locally, in a desktop app. | Locally, in a desktop app. |
| Setup | None. Drag the file in. | Install the app. | Install the app and add the file once. |
| Browse and filter tables | Yes, varies by site. | Yes. | Yes, with sort, filters, and foreign-key links. |
| Edit rows | Usually not. | Yes. | No. Read-only, so the file stays untouched. |
| Create databases and design tables | No. | Yes. | No. Opens existing files only. |
| Ask questions in plain language | No. | No. | Yes, with the coding agent you already use. |
| Cost | Usually free. | Free and open source. | Free for personal use. |
Also working with Postgres, MySQL, or ClickHouse? See the local database viewer guide.
SQLite tips
Finding and opening the right file.
Is it really SQLite?
The extension does not tell you. SQLite files are often .db, .sqlite, .sqlite3, or .db3, and some have none. Every SQLite database starts with the same 16 bytes, so check the header:
$ head -c 16 History
SQLite format 3Something else? See how to open other .db files.
Locked, or missing recent data?
Apps that are running often hold a lock on their database. Quit the
app, or copy the file and open the copy. If you see
-wal and -shm
files next to it, the newest changes may still be in the
-wal file. Copy it along with the
database.
Reading another app's live data.
Valv only reads the file and never writes to it. If the app that owns the database is running, it may still be writing. Open a copy for a stable snapshot.
Protected folders on macOS.
macOS protects folders like Safari and Messages. If a file there will not open, give Valv Full Disk Access in System Settings, Privacy and Security.
| Chrome history (macOS) | ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/History |
|---|---|
| Chrome history (Windows) | %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\History |
| Firefox history and bookmarks | <profile folder>/places.sqlite |
| Safari history (macOS) | ~/Library/Safari/History.db |
| Messages (macOS) | ~/Library/Messages/chat.db |
| Django project | <project>/db.sqlite3 |
| Android app | /data/data/<package>/databases/ |
On Android, app databases sit in a private folder. You usually need a debug build or a rooted device to pull them off with adb.
SQLite viewer, answered
How do I open a SQLite file in Valv?
Install Valv Desktop, then add a datasource and choose SQLite. Click Open, pick your database file, test the connection, and continue. The tables show up in the sidebar. Click one to browse its rows, or ask a question in chat.
Which file extensions can Valv open?
Any SQLite database file, whatever its name. Common ones are .db, .sqlite, .sqlite3, and .db3, and some apps use no extension at all. Valv does not filter the file picker by extension, so you can also pick a file like Chrome's History.
Is my SQLite file uploaded anywhere?
No. Valv opens the file directly on your machine and runs queries against it locally. The table viewer works without any AI provider. If you use the optional chat, the schema, your question, and the query results needed for the answer go through the agent account you picked.
Can I edit a SQLite database in Valv?
No. Valv is a read-only viewer. You can browse, filter, sort, and page through tables and export rows to CSV, but nothing in Valv writes to the file. To change data or structure, use a tool like DB Browser for SQLite.
Can the AI agent change my data?
No. The database tools Valv gives the agent are read-only. It can inspect the tables you allow and run structured queries, but it has no insert, update, delete, or raw SQL tools. You can also hide tables or columns from the agent.
Does Valv work on Mac, Windows, and Linux?
Yes. Valv Desktop has builds for macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows (x64), and Linux (AppImage, .deb, and .rpm).
Why does my SQLite file say it is locked?
Another program has the database open and is holding a lock, which is common with browsers and chat apps. Quit that app, or copy the database file (with its -wal file, if there is one) and open the copy.
Is Valv free?
Valv is free for personal, non-commercial use with every feature included. Commercial use needs a paid seat license.
Open your SQLite file.
Free for personal use, every feature included. Commercial use needs a seat at beta pricing. See pricing.