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VSD / VSDX (Visio)

VSD and the newer VSDX are the diagram formats used by Microsoft Visio for flowcharts, network maps, org charts, and floor plans. VSDX is a modern ZIP-and-XML format; the older VSD is binary and proprietary.

Files & formatsWindowsGeneral

VSD / VSDX (Visio)

Also known as: .vsd file, .vsdx file, Visio diagram, Microsoft Visio

VSD and the newer VSDX are the diagram formats used by Microsoft Visio for flowcharts, network maps, org charts, and floor plans. VSDX is a modern ZIP-and-XML format; the older VSD is binary and proprietary.

  • Microsoft Visio diagram (flowcharts, network maps)
  • VSDX is ZIP/XML; legacy VSD is binary
  • Export to PDF or PNG to share widely

VSD vs VSDX

A Visio file stores shapes, connectors, and multiple drawing pages. The legacy .vsd is a binary format; the current .vsdx is built on ZIP and XML (Open Packaging), so it is more open and easier for other tools to read.

Visio is the native editor, but several diagramming apps can import VSD/VSDX, and Visio can export diagrams to PDF or image formats for anyone to view.

Opening Visio files without Visio

If you do not own Visio, third-party diagram tools and viewers open many .vsdx files, and the person who made the diagram can export a PDF or PNG for you.

Diagram files are usually small, growing only with embedded images. Converting to PDF is the simplest way to share a Visio diagram with someone who has no diagramming software.

Related terms

Keep reading the reference.

Files & formatsXMLXML (Extensible Markup Language) is a text-based format that stores structured data inside nested, custom-named tags, such as `<title>…</title>`. It is self-describing and widely used for documents, configuration, RSS feeds, and data exchange between systems.GeneralFiles & formatsPDFPDF (Portable Document Format) is a fixed-layout document format that looks the same on any device. Most PDFs are small, but scanned documents and image-heavy files can grow large, and they accumulate quietly in Downloads and the Files app.GeneralFiles & formatsZIP archiveA ZIP archive bundles one or more files into a single compressed .zip file that is smaller and easier to share. Unzipping it creates a second, full-size copy of the contents — so an archive and its extracted files can both take up space at once.GeneraliPhone & iPadDocuments & DataDocuments & Data is the storage an app accumulates on top of its install size — downloads, saved files, login state, and cached media. It often dwarfs the app itself, which is why a small app can occupy several gigabytes.iOSiPadOS