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, subscription or one-time Lifetime purchase, exports to CSV and PDF.
Test a representative schedule
Before choosing a viewer, open a copy of a schedule you know and compare its task names, dates and hierarchy with the source. Check whether you need to edit or reschedule: GanttPeek is for read-only review. If you need a portable report, follow the MPP to PDF guide and inspect the exported result before sharing it.
Honest limits
- 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 GanttPeek Pro: a monthly or yearly subscription or 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.