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Open a Visio file on iPhone or iPad

Visio has no iPhone or iPad app, so tapping a .vsdx attachment in Mail usually shows a blank page or just the file name. Here's how to see the drawing in Safari, with nothing to install.

Open your Visio file Every page free. No sign-up.

Step by step

  1. In Mail, Outlook or Messages, touch and hold the .vsdx or .vsd attachment, then tap Save to Files. Pick a folder you'll remember, like Downloads.
  2. Open the Visio Viewer in Safari.
  3. Tap the drop area, then Choose File (on some versions, Browse), and pick the drawing from Files.

A few seconds later every page of the drawing appears. Pinch to zoom on network diagrams and floor plans. Viewing is free, and there is no account and no app to install.

Save it as a PDF

Tap PDF to download the whole drawing, every page at its own size. iOS opens it in Files, where you can share it, print it or mark it up. Downloads are $19 once for every drawing you open in that browser, with no subscription.

File is in OneDrive, SharePoint or Teams?

Open it in the OneDrive or Teams app, tap the three dots, and choose Download or Save to Files. Then pick it from Files as above. If your work account includes Visio for the web, the OneDrive app may also open it directly.

Older .vsd files

Drawings saved by Visio 2010 and earlier use the binary .vsd format. They open the same way. If a page looks wrong, email me the file and I'll look at it.

Open your Visio file Every page free. No sign-up.

Microsoft Visio is a trademark of Microsoft. I am not affiliated with Microsoft.