Compatibility / Side-by-Side Usage

This page lists the compatibility of KeePass 1.05 with other KeePass versions.

Note that the latest version can load all database files created by any older KeePass version without any data loss.

If you were looking for instructions how to update to the latest version, please read the updating instructions.

Database File Compatibility (KDB Files):

Compatibility TypeVersions
Full SxS 1.04, 1.03, 1.02
DB SxS 1.01, 1.00, 0.99c, 0.99b, 0.99a, 0.98b, 0.98a
Lossy SxS 0.97c, 0.97b, 0.97a, 0.96b, 0.96a, 0.95b, 0.95a
No SxS 0.94a, 0.93b, 0.93a, 0.92a, 0.91, 0.90a, 0.89, 0.88a, 0.87, 0.86, 0.85, 0.84, 0.83b, 0.83, 0.82, 0.81, 0.80
Full Backward 1.04, 1.03, 1.02, 1.01, 1.00, 0.99c, 0.99b, 0.99a, 0.98b, 0.98a, 0.97c, 0.97b, 0.97a, 0.96b, 0.96a, 0.95b, 0.95a, 0.94a, 0.93b, 0.93a, 0.92a, 0.91, 0.90a, 0.89, 0.88a, 0.87, 0.86, 0.85, 0.84, 0.83b, 0.83, 0.82, 0.81, 0.80

Full SxS: This compatibility type means that you can use the latest version with the listed ones side-by-side (SxS) without any data loss. These versions use exactly the same database format and are 100% compatible.

DB SxS: This type means that you can run these KeePass versions side-by-side, the database files are compatible. But there are some minor, visual incompatiblities. For example, from KeePass 1.01 to 1.02, the entry icons have changed. While this doesn't affect the database file format, creating a database with 1.01 will lead to different icons displayed in 1.02.

Lossy SxS: This type means that is possible to use the listed versions with the latest one side-by-side (database format is compatible), but some data of the newer version could be lost or displayed incorrectly in the old versions. For example, older versions don't know meta entries yet and display them as normal entries. Though no data will be lost, users may be confused when KeePass displays such meta entries.
The listed versions can open databases of the latest one, but it is generally not recommended to use them side-by-side.

No SxS: This means that the database format of the latest version is incompatible with the listed KeePass versions. The listed ones are not able to load the database files created by the latest version. Note that the latest version can load all database versions (this is called 'full backward compatibility').

Full Backward: The latest KeePass version can load all database files created by any older version. KeePass has been designed to be 100% backward compatible, i.e. the latest KeePass version will always be able to load a database created by an older version. No data is lost.