Why will my Access databases not open?

Question

Why will my Access databases not open?

Lucas Hutton 60

I use Microsoft 365. I haven't used Access for a while, and I have a few databases that I now want to use. I launch Access and locate a database in my file system. I click on the filename, and the Access application opens immediately. However, the interface is blank. No error messages of any kind; no tables, queries, forms--just a blank sheet. The same thing happens with databases old and relatively new. I've got some that date to 2001, others that I built last year. What's going on?

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Answer 1

It looks like you already found the main issue. Access does not work well with files that are still “online only” in OneDrive. Unlike Word or Excel, it cannot stream a live database, so the file needs to be fully local. That is why choosing “Always keep on this device” solved the blank screen problem.

The message about blocked active content is normal too. Access will warn you if the file is not in a Trusted Location. If you plan to keep your databases in that folder, add it to your Trusted Locations in Access Options and the warning will go away. Converting older .mdb files to .accdb is also a good idea, since newer versions of Access support that format best.

And one more important tip: I always recommend in my courses and in my TechHelp videos that you do not run live Access databases out of any shared folder, whether it is OneDrive, Dropbox, or a network share. Those are fine for backup, but your working database should always be on a local drive to avoid corruption and performance problems.

Answer 2

Lucas Hutton 60

Just now made some progress! I discovered the file option to "Always keep on this device." So I selected on of my recent database files as it lay in my OneDrive folder and clicked to keep on my local drive. Now I can open that database!

The first thing I got when I tried to open the database was an error that read, "The active content in this file is blocked. Review your Trust Center settings ... ." I clicked OK, and the database opened, although with the little notice to Allow Content. But it seems to work. Can any of you experts help me understand what just happened. It looks as though Access doesn't want to play with files stored online.

Tammy-Ng 4,525 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-08-25T08:09:46.7333333+00:00
Hi Lucas Hutton
Thank you for your response, your explanation was very helpful to me.

Based on the details you shared, I’d like to suggest the following steps:

Set up a Trusted Location to avoid warnings when opening the file:

Open Microsoft Access.

Go to File → Options → Trust Center → Trust Center Settings.

Select Trusted Locations, then click Add new location.

Choose the folder where your Access file is stored (e.g., the OneDrive folder you've downloaded to your device).

Check the box for “Subfolders of this location are also trusted” if needed.

After completing these steps, Access will no longer block active content, and you won’t see the “Allow Content” warning each time you open the file.

Additional recommendations:

Avoid opening Access files directly from OneDrive online or email. Always download them to your local device before opening.

Do not disable Trust Center security entirely, as it helps protect you from potentially harmful files.

I hope this information is useful to you. Please try these steps, and if you encounter any issues, feel free to share them, I’m always ready to help!
If my initial answer has been even partially helpful, please consider marking it as “Accepted Answer” so others facing similar issues can find it more easily.
Tammy-Ng 4,525 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-08-27T06:57:21.8933333+00:00

Hi Lucas Hutton

I hope you're doing well. I'm reaching out to follow up on the issue you raised regarding your Access databases not opening. It’s been a while since we last heard from you, and I wanted to check whether the problem has been resolved.

If there are any new developments or additional details, please feel free to share them. I'm always here and ready to support you in any way I can.

Answer 3

Access does not work well with accdbs or mdbs stored in online locations such as OneDrive or Dropbox.

One should never try to open an Access accdb or mdb from OneDrive. That's separate from the Trusted Location problem, however.

For a single user (you and only you), that is not so dangerous, but the second you share a back end accdb or mdb with a 2nd user, trying to do so from an online storage location is going to cause problems, sooner rather than later.

The technical reason for that risk is the way Access manages reads and writes to the accdb, which doesn't work with files stored in OneDrive, etc. You risk corrupting the file, or more commonly, you end up overwriting changes made by the other user--or having their changes overwrite yours. Bad data ensues.

Either store the back end accdb and mdb files on your local computer or, if you must share with other users, place the back end accdb and mdb in a shared folder on your network.

Answer 4

ScottGem 68,765 Volunteer Moderator

So it looks like the problem has to do with storing the files on your One Drive, which is not recommended for Access. Once they were stored locally, they opened up. Trust Center is a feature that helps prevent malicious files from executing. Once you designate a folder as Trusted, apps stored in that folder should open OK.

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Why will my Access databases not open?

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