Access Database Repair

How to Repair Corrupt Microsoft Access Database Files (MDB & ACCDB) and Recover Data?

Written By Keshav Katyal
Approved By Kuljeet Singh
Updated on 19 May, 2026
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Corruption in MS Access database usually occurs when errors are found in the underlying binary file format of the database. It may also happen due to connectivity issues or an abrupt system shutdown while working on a shared database file.

Because of this, you may face difficulty in accessing Access database files (.accdb/.mdb) or the objects. You may also encounter an error message like “Unrecognized database format ACCDB/MBD” while trying to open a corrupted database file.

However, there are ways to repair corrupted Access database file. In this post, we will explore some DIY methods in detail.

What are MDB & ACCDB Files?

MDB and ACCDB are the two database file types used by different MS Access versions. Let’s read more about them in detail.

MDB

Short for Microsoft Database, MDB file (file extension – .mdb) is a database file type used by the legacy versions of MS Access – Access 2003 and earlier (till Access 1.0). It stores typical database objects, like queries, tables, forms, and reports.

ACCDB

All latest versions of MS Access: Access 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024 and Microsoft Access (part of Microsoft 365) use ACCDB (.accdb) as the default file type for creating databases. This file format offers advanced features with improved and optimized functionality.

With an improved database security model, it supports the security validation of DB files, with the major advantage being that both MS Outlook and SharePoint trust this validation.

How to Convert Access Database File Format from MDB to ACCDB?

As per Microsoft’s documentation, you can open MDB files using any new version of MS Access (2007 or later). However, you won’t be able to use some functionalities that require the .accdb file format. So, if you want to use new features, you’ll need to convert MDB to ACCDB first.

Here is how you can do this by using Access 2007 or newer version:

Launch MS Access.
Choose the Blank desktop database option.

Choose the Blank desktop database option

Give the new database file a name and click on Create.

Once the new database file opens, click on File > Close.

Again, click on File from the ribbon. Select Open from the left pane.
Select your MDB database file to open it.

Now, click on File > Save As.
Choose “Access Database (Default database format)” file type under Save Database As and click Save As.

Select the location where you want to save the database file and click Save.

It will show the “Database upgraded” dialog box. Click on OK.

To verify the file format change,

Go to the location where you have saved the converted database file.
Select it and right-click on it.
Click on Properties.

Check the Type of file field. It should be .accdb.
Click OK to close the window.

Why does an Access Database Get Corrupted?

The following are the reasons that may lead to Access database corruption:

Type 1: Operational Causes

Frequently editing data in Memo fields (Long text fields)
Interruptions like network issues when making changes to data
Jet database engine version conflicts

Type 2: System Causes

Power cut or abrupt system shutdown
Windows freezes or the application crashes while making changes
Inadequate free space available on the local storage drive

Type 3: Other Causes

Virus or malware attack
Hardware failure or software bugs
Conflicting plug-ins
Bad sectors on the storage drive
Shared database file is accessed by a large number of users simultaneously
Large size of the database file (>2GB)

How to Repair Microsoft Access Database?

You can fix the corrupted database by using following DIY solutions.

Tip – Check this article on MDB file repair for information about common error messages related to MDB File Corruption.

Method 1- Use ‘Compact and Repair’ to Repair Access Database Manually

You can use ‘Compact and Repair’ – a Microsoft Access built-in utility for repairing a corrupt .MDB/.ACCDB database file. It can also help fix inconsistencies or remove unused spaces in the database file.

Case 1. Database is Opening

If the Access database is corrupted but you are able to open it, follow these steps:

Open the problematic Access database file.
In your Access database, click ‘File.’
From the window that appears, click the ‘Compact & Repair’ option on the ‘Info’ page.

Note: You can also do this from the menu bar. Select Database Tools and click on Compact and Repair Database.

Select Database Tools and click on Compact and Repair Database

Case 2. Database is Not Opening

If you can’t open your ACCDB/MDB file, try repairing the file using these steps:

Notes:

These steps apply to Access 2013, 2016, and 2019.

Take a backup of the database file before proceeding.

Open your MS Access program.
On the ‘templates’ screen, double-click ‘Blank desktop database.’
In your Access program, click the ‘File’ menu. Next, click ‘Close’ to exit the database.
Click Database Tools > Compact & Repair Database.

Click Database Tools > Compact & Repair Database

In the ‘Database to Compact From’ window, locate the corrupt Access database file and select it. Click on Compact.

The ‘Compact Database Into’ window will appear. Specify a new name for the repaired database file, and click ‘Save.’

Specify new name for the repaired database file

The repaired file will be saved at the original DB file’s path.

Method 2: Manually Recover Corrupt Access Database

There is also a manual workaround to restore DB objects. Follow the step-by-step process below in the given sequence.

Step 1: Restore the Database from the Backup

If you’ve a backup of your Access database, try using it to restore the database file. The detailed steps are listed below:

Open File Explorer, select and copy the backup file.
Paste the copied file at the same location where the corrupt database file is saved.
When prompted, replace the existing DB file with the backup copy.

For detailed information on restoring and backing up an Access database, read this: How to Backup and Restore Access Database?

Step 2: Delete Microsoft Access Lock Information (.ldb) Files

An LDB file gets created when an Access db is opened or accessed for shared use (i.e., in a multi-user environment). It has the same name as that of the primary file but has the .ldb extension. This helps in keeping track of all active users accessing the database.

When the last user closes the file, the lock file is deleted automatically. But, it might not get deleted if the user doesn’t have delete permissions to the Access database (.mdb) file or the database is corrupt.

Note: Deleting the .ldb file is important to remove the lock on the .mdb file if you want to recover the data from that file.

Step 3: Use Jet Compact Utility

Using the Jet Database Engine of Access helps auto-fix minor issues that crop up in the database from time to time while reading and writing data. Due to this, in most cases, you may never even find out that something went wrong.

Step 4: Remove all Compiled VBA Codes from the Database

This can be done by using this command line switch:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\MsAccess.exe /decompile C:\DatabasePath\FileName.mdb

Note: You may need to change the path shown above for MsAccess.exe if you installed it in a different location.

Step 5: Import Corrupt Database Objects into a New Database

Try importing objects into a new Access database file by following these steps:

Open MS Access and create a new database file. To do so, click File > New > Blank Database.
Next, click the ‘External Data’ tab and select ‘Access’ on the ‘Import & Link’ menu.

The ‘Get External Data – Access Database’ dialog box is displayed. Click ‘Browse’ and locate the database file that needs to be imported.
Select Import tables, queries, etc., option under ‘Specify how and where you want to store the data in the current database.’ Click OK.

Select all database objects you want to import from the next window and then press the OK button.

The wizard will begin the process of importing the selected objects from the corrupted MDB file into the newly created database file.
Once it has successfully imported the selected database objects, click Close.

Note: This procedure might also help you repair the Access database file that might have turned corrupt due to damaged system tables.

Method 3: Use Stellar Repair for Access Software

Stellar Repair for Access is a powerful DIY software you can use to repair and recover .MDB/.ACCDB file in a few simple steps. This Access database repair tool previews all the recoverable database objects like tables, deleted records, queries, forms, reports, etc. This is useful for the users to verify the data accuracy before saving it.

Follow these steps to perform Access database repair using the software:

Download, install, and run Stellar Repair for Access software.

The Select Database window will appear.

Browse for the corrupt Access database file.

Browse for the corrupt Access database file

Click ‘Repair’ to start the repair process.

Click ‘Repair’ to start the repair process

After completion of the repair process, various database object categories will be displayed in the left pane.
Click on ‘+‘ to expand each category. Individual objects under that category will appear.
Select any object to see its preview.

To save, click ‘Save Database’ in the ‘Home’ tab.

The Save At window will appear.
The Default Location option is selected automatically. This is the location of the source database file. You can choose this or select the New Location option if you want to save the repaired database file at a new path on your local storage drive.
After selecting an option, click OK to save the repaired database file.

The file will be saved at the desired location.

Wrapping Up

There can be umpteen reasons that can turn an Access database (MDB/ACCDB) corrupt. These include large database file size (greater than 2GB), hardware issues like bad sectors, or more. You can manually compact and repair the database.

But sometimes, the MS Access built-in ‘Compact and Repair’ utility may not properly fix the corrupted Access database. In that case, you can repair the corrupted database by using a Stellar Repair for Access – a powerful Access database file repair software that can effortlessly repair severely corrupted Access database files. It can also recover and restore all the database objects from the corrupted file to a new one.

Why does my Access database file keep getting corrupted repeatedly?

The common reasons for repeated corruption are: unreliable network connection, faulty hardware, damaged database structure, and others. One way to avoid this issue is to split the database into front end and back end.

How do I know if my Access database is partially corrupted?

Look for these – random error prompts, slow DB performance, not able to open particular elements (forms and reports), or frequent application/database crashes.

Is it possible to repair only specific objects (tables, forms, queries) in a corrupted database?

Yes. You can restore selected objects from the corrupted database rather than repairing the whole database by using Stellar Repair for Access.

Why does the ‘Compact and Repair’ utility fail sometimes?

The utility may not work if there is significant corruption or damage to system tables or if the database file exceeds the size restrictions. This situation calls for more sophisticated repairs and tools such as Stellar Repair for Access.

What will happen if my database file size exceeds the 2GB size limit?

In this case (database file exceeded 2GB), the chances of corruption significantly increase. So, it is recommended to compact the database or split it.

About The Author

Keshav Katyal

A passionate writer driven by his interest in everything tech, Keshav Katyal has always been captivated by the latest gadgets since childhood. His interest in technology grew when he got his first gam...

94 comments

Rahul says:

August 7, 2016 at 10:13 am

I have access database file on share drive in one folder. Many people opens it for work purpose. From some days duplicate access database file get created automatically with name “Database.mdb” or “Database1.mdb” in same folder. I have deleted that file several time however its created again. Don’t know how to deal with this problem.

Reply
1. Jyoti Prakash says:
  
  November 7, 2016 at 4:50 am
  
  Hi Rahul,
  
  When Access compacts a database, it makes a copy named database.mdb. If the compact process succeeds, then the original database is deleted and the database.mdb is renamed to the original database name.
  
  If something interrupts the process, the database.mdb files proliferate. If the interruption occurs after deleting the original db and before renaming the compacted copy back to the original file name, you’ll only find the database.mdb file in the folder.
  
  Ref: Read More
  
  Reply
Angela Ward says:

July 20, 2016 at 3:02 am

Thanks to Jyoti and Aaren for their help. I had an issue in my database, it was working very slow. I split it and problem was fixed.

Reply
Joanna Wise says:

June 20, 2016 at 6:07 am

My database was corrupt. Well, it’s a long story behind it but I downloaded the software and repaired my database. I had a good experience with “Stellar phoenix access database repair” software.

Reply
Aaron White says:

May 6, 2016 at 4:48 am

It is very helpful information about MS Access database corruption. I think user should also prevent the corruption during development. I am sharing some tips which can help to reduce the corruption during development:
– Install latest service packs (Access and JET).
– Always turn-off Name AutoCorrect before creating objects.
– Do not edit any text box of the module in running phase.
– Create a backup copy of your database.
– When user compiled project but it becomes un-compiled after restart then it is a first warning to user about data corruption. Take backup, compact, decompile, compact again then compile. Now make a backup copy.

Now I just want to share my knowledge on database splitting as you mentioned in the comment. The question is why we split the database? The answer is, for maintenance and manage network traffic. In MS Access 2007 to 2010 this option is available on Database Tools | Move Data | Access Back-End.

Reply
Jesica Brown says:

January 19, 2016 at 10:46 am

When I got corruption on my database then I tried to repair it by online videos but, I didn’t get success. It was company’s database so; I cannot take any risk with it.
These mentioned repairing process helped me to repair my Access database successfully. It is a magical post for me. Thanks a lot to save my work, my job and my life.

Reply
1. Jyoti Prakash says:
  
  January 20, 2016 at 7:07 am
  
  Hi Jesica,
  
  Thanks a lot for your kind words!
  
  Reply
Zoey Campbell says:

December 16, 2015 at 5:45 am

Hello,

What will I do, if Stellar Access database repair software is not able to repair my corrupt database file?

Reply
1. Jyoti Prakash says:
  
  December 17, 2015 at 3:12 am
  
  Hi Zoey,
  
  I am happy to answer your query!!
  
  In case our Stellar Access repair is not able to repair your corrupt Access database then you can go for refund. We provide 30-days money back guarantee on all our products. Additionally I will suggest you to try the demo version of software to evaluate the efficiency. If you will be able to see the preview of your corrupt database then you will save the database using full version as you have previewed.
  
  Good Luck!
  
  Reply
  1. Zoey Campbell says:
    
    December 21, 2015 at 5:37 am
    
    Dear Jyoti,
    
    Thanks for this information and I tried the demo version of the tool and it was showing the preview of my corrupt database so, I bought it. This blog is very helpful for me.
Sims Mateo says:

December 8, 2015 at 5:32 am

Is the .ldb file created for every database in the shared use?

Reply
1. Jyoti Prakash says:
  
  December 10, 2015 at 11:02 am
  
  Hi Sims,
  
  Yes, for every database which is opened for shared use, the .ldb file is created. This file has the same name as the opened database and it is located in the same folder as opened database.
  
  Reply
Adrian says:

November 24, 2015 at 10:51 am

I Agreed with Petrick L. because I also have faced the same problem. We can take care of the software by the anti-virus but the hardware is quite tough to maintain. Well, thanks for this information.

Reply
Petrick L. says:

November 17, 2015 at 6:45 am

I felt that, most of the corruption occurs due to hardware problem and Compact & Repair command works finely to repair the corrupt database. I tried the demo version of your Access database repair tool because I was unable to repair my database through Compact & Repair command. It gives me perfect results which force me to buy this utility. Thanks a lot for this excellent product…

Reply
Jayden Turner says:

October 30, 2015 at 6:23 am

I was reading a blog and tried to understand the use of temporary tables in Access database to speed up queries but didn’t understand. Please tell me, how these temporary tables became helpful to speed up the database?

Reply
1. Jyoti Prakash says:
  
  November 5, 2015 at 6:45 am
  
  Hi Jayden,
  
  When user runs nested query then it creates many temporary files so that the JET engine works very fast. Due to this process, Access database can choke and the backend files get corrupt.To prevent it, we should use temporary tables because it will minimize the chances of file corruption and speed up the queries.
  
  Reply