Step by step
- Understand why nothing opens it. Microsoft Project is Windows-only. macOS has no MPP decoder, so Finder shows a generic document and Quick Look shows nothing useful.
- Skip the upload-and-convert route. Free online MPP converters need the schedule uploaded. A project plan usually names staff, costs and client commitments, which makes that upload a disclosure.
- Open it locally. Install GanttPeek, then choose Open Project, press Command-O, or open the MPP straight from Finder. Parsing happens on the Mac.
- Take what you need out. Export tasks as CSV, or the schedule report as PDF, from the File menu. The original MPP is never modified.
How the options actually compare
- Windows VM or Parallels plus a Project licence: full fidelity, and by far the most expensive and heaviest option.
- Project for the web or Project Online: a Microsoft 365 subscription, an account, and an import step before you can read anything.
- Online converters: no install, but the schedule is uploaded to a third party and usually returned flattened.
- GanttPeek: reads supported MPP files locally on the Mac, offline, read-only, one-time purchase, exports to CSV and PDF.
Honest limits
Read this before you rely on it. GanttPeek states what it does not extract rather than presenting a partial read as a complete one.
- GanttPeek is read-only. It does not edit, reschedule or write MPP files.
- Password-protected MPP files are not supported, and the app does not recover passwords or bypass file protection.
- Baselines, progress, constraints, notes, calendar exceptions, custom fields, resource capacity and costs, and source critical-path flags are not extracted.
- Files must be no larger than 100 MB on Mac, and macOS 14 Sonoma or later on Apple silicon is required.
Questions
Is there a Microsoft Project for Mac?
No. Microsoft has never released Project for macOS. Reading an .mpp file on a Mac requires either a Windows virtual machine, a Microsoft 365 web plan, or a dedicated viewer such as GanttPeek.
Can I open an MPP file for free on Mac?
GanttPeek includes one real project at no charge, and reopening that project does not use another slot. Unlimited projects unlock with a one-time Lifetime purchase.
Does GanttPeek upload my schedule?
No. Parsing happens on the Mac. The app works offline and requires no account.
Can I edit the plan?
No. GanttPeek is a read-only viewer. Editing a schedule still requires Microsoft Project or an equivalent planning tool.