VBD File Extension

VBD file icon

Visual Basic ActiveX Document

What is a VBD file?

Files with the VBD extension are specifically tied to Visual Basic ActiveX Document, a Document Files type, and there are 969 files in this category.

The Visual Basic ActiveX Document (VBD) was created by Microsoft, a company that developed file format and produced 242 programs for their use.

VBD files are supported by Windows, Mac OS and Linux. If you need to open a VBD file, you can use one of 7 programs, such as Microsoft Visual Studio, Internet Explorer and Firefox.

How to open a VBD file?

If you’re having difficulty opening a VBD file, it is often due to not having the correct software. To solve the problem, choose a compatible program from the list. Then follow the link to the official developer site, download the software, and install it on your device.

Microsoft Visual Studio, Internet Explorer and Firefox stand out as the preferred programs to manage VBD files effectively. To install the latest version of Internet Explorer on your computer, visit the Microsoft website where you can download the version available for all operating systems.

After installation, your operating system should automatically open VBD files with Internet Explorer.

Set Internet Explorer as the default VBD handler

Choose an app to open a file on Mac

  1. Right click or use Control + left click on the desired VBD file to launch the file options menu;
  2. Choose "Open in Application" and click "Other";
  3. Next, at the bottom of the window, you will see the "Enable" menu, in which "Recommended Programs" is selected by default;
  4. In this menu, select "All Programs", then find Internet Explorer and check the box next to "Always open in the application."

Set default programs for Windows

  1. Start by right-clicking on your VBD file, then select "Open With" and continue by clicking "Choose another app" from the options provided;
  2. In the pop-up window, find and select the Internet Explorer application from the available options;
  3. Make sure the "Always use this app" checkbox is checked and click "OK" to confirm your choice as the default app for opening VBD files.

Convert files to and from VBD

If you have trouble working with a VBD file, try converting it to PDF or similar document files.

Be aware that converting a VBD file may reduce some features, but you can usually revert it to the original format.

Convert VBD to other file formats

Effective solutions for VBD file problems

There are some common issues with VBD files that can be resolved easily by making minor adjustments to your software. Below, you’ll find these issues along with practical troubleshooting tips.

What are the methods to detect if my VBD file has been corrupted?

VBD document files that have become corrupted may display one or more of the following symptoms:

  • An unexplained increase in the size of the VBD file;
  • Trying to work with the archive in Internet Explorer or other programs causes instability or program crashes;
  • The file does not open correctly or displays error messages;
  • While working with the file, error alerts are encountered;
  • The file exhibits poor performance during editing operations in Microsoft Visual Studio;

Why does Internet Explorer crash?

Insufficient software updates can contribute to Internet Explorer crash. To avoid this, make sure that you have installed the latest updates for Microsoft products.

Restarting your computer can resolve numerous common problems, so it should be the initial step before changing any software-related settings.

How to repair a corrupted VBD file?

Open the damaged VBD file in a recovery program and select the "Repair" menu item to start the repair operation. Please wait patiently for the recovery process to finish as it will automatically repair the damaged document files.

How to edit a VBD file?

To make changes to VBD files, you need specialized software that allows both opening and editing the document files. Online VBD editors offer fewer capabilities than applications optimized for Visual Basic ActiveX Document.

Best VBD editors 2026

Based on these criteria, we have prepared a list of available VBD editors.

VBD Editor SoftwareDeveloperPlatformsOverall Rating
Microsoft Visual StudioMicrosoftWindows, Mac OS, Linux4.2 out of 5 (35 reviews)