Can Tableau Reader Open TWB Files?
Trying to share a Tableau dashboard can feel like a simple task until you’re hit with a broken connection error, leaving your colleague staring at an empty chart. The issue often comes down to one little letter in the file extension: are you using a .twb or a .twbx? So, can the free Tableau Reader tool open a standard .twb file? Yes, but there's a major catch you need to understand.
This article will show you exactly how to share your workbooks correctly. We’ll cover the critical difference between .twb and .twbx files, the right way to save and share your dashboards for Tableau Reader, and why one file type almost always fails while the other is purpose-built for sharing.
The Short Answer: Yes, But It's Complicated
Technically, Tableau Reader can open a .twb (Tableau Workbook) file. However, in most real-world scenarios, it will fail to load properly without giving your recipient an error. Why? Because a .twb file doesn't actually contain your data.
Think of it like a recipe. The .twb file lists all the ingredients (your data sources), the instructions for how to combine them (your calculations and logic), and a picture of the final presentation (your dashboard design). But it doesn't include the actual food. If you give someone just the recipe, they can only make the dish if they have an identical, fully-stocked kitchen with every ingredient located in the exact same spot.
If your .twb file points to a local Excel file like C:\Data\Reports\October-Sales.xlsx, it will only work for someone who has that exact same file in that exact same folder path on their computer. The moment you email that .twb to a coworker, the connection breaks. Their computer has no idea where to find that file, and Tableau Reader will be unable to display the visualizations.
This is where the .twbx file comes in. It solves this problem completely and is the correct format for sharing with Reader users.
.TWB vs. .TWBX: Understanding Tableau's File Types
At the heart of any sharing issue is the difference between these two file types. Choosing the right one is the single most important step for successfully distributing your dashboards.
Tableau Workbook (.twb): The Blueprint
The standard .twb file is the main file type you work with in Tableau Desktop. It’s a very small XML file that essentially stores a set of instructions. It contains:
Your sheets, dashboards, and story points.
All formatting, colors, labels, and tooltips.
Custom calculations, groups, sets, and parameters you’ve created.
Connection information for your data source (e.g., a server address or a local file path).
What it doesn't contain is the data itself. Its job is to tell Tableau Desktop how to connect to a data source and how to visualize the data it finds there. This makes .twb files perfect for collaborative environments where multiple analysts are connected to the same central database or shared network drive.
Tableau Packaged Workbook (.twbx): The All-in-One Package
A Tableau Packaged Workbook (.twbx) is a much more robust file designed specifically for sharing. It’s essentially a "zip" archive that bundles everything needed to view the dashboard into a single, self-contained file. A .twbx file includes:
The original a .twb file (the blueprint).
A copy of the data source file (like an Excel, CSV, or a Tableau Data Extract .hyper file).
Any custom images or non-standard fonts used in the dashboard.
Custom geocoding information, if applicable.
Using our earlier analogy, the .twbx isn't just a recipe - it's a complete meal kit delivered to your door. It has the recipe card (.twb) packaged right alongside all the necessary ingredients (the data and images). Anyone can open it and immediately see the finished product without needing access to your original project files or database connections.
For sharing a dashboard with someone using the free Tableau Reader, the .twbx format is always the correct choice.
How to Properly Share a Workbook for Tableau Reader Users
The process is incredibly simple once you know which file type to create. Here is the step-by-step workflow to ensure your users can open and interact with your dashboard without any errors.
Step 1: Use a Data Extract (Optional but Recommended)
If you are connected live to a slow database, or if you want to perform query-heavy operations without impacting the database performance, it is best practice to first create a Tableau Data Extract. This creates a highly optimized snapshot of your data stored locally or within your workbook.
In the "Data Source" tab of your workbook, simply select "Extract" instead of "Live." When you switch to a worksheet, Tableau will prompt you to save the extract (.hyper file). This extract will be automatically bundled into your workbook when you save it as a .twbx in the next step.
Step 2: Save Your Workbook as a .TWBX File
This is the most critical step. Instead of just clicking File > Save, you need to use the "Save As" option.
In Tableau Desktop, navigate to File > Save As.
A dialog box will appear. In the "Save as type" dropdown menu at the bottom, select "Tableau Packaged Workbook (*.twbx)" instead of the default choice.
Give your file a descriptive name, like "Q3_Marketing_Performance_Report.twbx," and click Save.
Tableau will now gather your workbook, the data extract (or a copy of your local data file), and any other assets, compressing them all into that single .twbx file.
Step 3: Send the .TWBX File
Now that everything is contained in one file, you can easily share it. Attach the .twbx file to an email, upload it to a cloud drive like Google Drive or SharePoint, or share it via Slack. Your recipient can simply download this one file.
Step 4: The Recipient Opens the File in Tableau Reader
On their end, the process is seamless. All your colleague needs to do is:
Install the free Tableau Reader application if they don't already have it.
Double-click the .twbx file you sent them.
The workbook will open perfectly, fully interactive, with all data and formatting intact. They can now use filters, click on marks, view tooltips, and analyze the data - all without needing access to the original data source.
What About Workbooks Using Live Connections?
There is one exception where a .twb file can work for a Tableau Reader user: when the workbook is built on a live connection to a database that the recipient also has access to. Imagine your whole team works inside a corporate network and has login credentials for the company's SQL server.
In this case, you could send a .twb file. When the recipient opens it, Tableau Reader would use the connection information in the .twb file and their personal credentials to directly query the server and populate the dashboard. However, even in this scenario, a .twbx can be preferable as a static report, as it reduces the load on the database and ensures everyone is looking at the exact same data snapshot.
If you're sharing data with external stakeholders, clients, or team members outside your company's network, a live-connected .twb will almost certainly fail. Saving the workbook with a data extract as a .twbx is the only reliable method.
Common "File Not Found" Errors
If you accidentally send a .twb file connected to a local file, your user will encounter an error message that can be confusing. Typically, Tableau Reader will say something like:
"Unable to connect to the data source."
"The file [Your File Name].xlsx could not be found."
Or it may open a dialog box asking the user to manually locate the missing data file on their computer.
When this happens, it’s not an error with Tableau Reader, it’s a symptom of having the wrong file type. The immediate fix is for you, the creator, to go back into your Tableau Desktop file, save it correctly as a .twbx, and resend it.
Final Thoughts
To sum it up, while Tableau Reader technically can process a .twb file's instructions, it practically fails for sharing because it lacks the necessary data. The non-negotiable best practice is to always save and share your workbooks as a .twbx. This single action packages everything needed into a portable, self-contained file that guarantees your audience will see the dashboard exactly as you designed it, problem-free.
The manual process of exporting, packaging, and emailing files is a common pain point in data analysis. Hours are often spent not on finding insights but on simply getting reports into the right format for the right people. At Graphed, we remove this friction entirely. Instead of static files, we allow you to connect your marketing and sales data sources one time. From there, you can use simple natural language to build and securely share real-time, interactive dashboards that are always up-to-date, eliminating the need to worry about file types or broken connections again.