Files with dsn file extension can be often found as part of Microsoft Database applications. These files store settings and other parameters for connect to a specific databases.

There are 6 other file types using
the DSN file extension!

empty icon.dsn - OrCAD schematic capture data

empty icon.dsn - SureThing Office Labeler document file

empty icon.dsn - CD Stomper Pro file

empty icon.dsn - ISIS Schematic Capture schematic data

empty icon.dsn - SPECCTRA design

empty icon.dsn - Proteus Design Suite electronics design file

DSN file extension - Microsoft Database source name and settings file

What is dsn file? How to open dsn files?

File type specification:

Settings, options, themes or skins file type icon Settings, options, themes or skins file type

dsn file icon: dsn filetype icon

File extension dsn is commonly used by many various database applications for various configuration or settings files. These can have a form of settings, drivers and other parameters, that are used by ODBC drivers to connect to a specific database, such as Microsoft Access database or SQL Server.

To an ADO or RDS programmer, an ideal world would be one in which every data source exposes an OLE DB interface, so that ADO could call directly into the data source.

Although increasingly more database vendors are implementing OLE DB interfaces, some data sources are not yet exposed this way. However, virtually all DBMS systems in use today can be accessed through ODBC.

Updated: November 16, 2023

The default software associated to open dsn file:

Microsoft Access icon

Microsoft Corporation logoMicrosoft Access  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Microsoft Corporation

A popular relational database management system for Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Access is sold as stand-alone application, or as a part of Microsoft Office suite Professional edition and higher. Access uses own database format, to build databases, based on Jet Database Engine and also can import databases created by other applications.

Common file extensions for Access databases are accdb and mdb (previous MS Access versions).

Help how to open:

It doesn't seem these files are meant to be opened directly, they are settings.

How to convert:

These files are generally not meant to be converted to anything else.

File identification strings:

HEX code: 5B 4F 44 42 43 5D 0D 0A 44 52 49 56 45 52 3D
ASCII code: [ODBC] DRIVER=

Related links:

MSDN OLE DB provider overview

List of software applications associated to the .dsn file extension

Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open dsn file, edit dsn file, convert dsn file, view dsn file, play dsn file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).

Hint:
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting dsn files.

Software that import dsn file - Microsoft Database source name and settings file

Programs supporting the exension dsn on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for import dsn file action.

Apple macOS / Mac OS X:

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