SharePoint Document Issues

How to Fix Access Linked SharePoint Tables Showing #DELETED Error

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users need to resolve an issue where Microsoft Access linked SharePoint tables frequently disconnect, display #DELETED instead of actual records, or trigger runtime error 3167 during VBA searches.

Product: Microsoft Access and SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Accessing, querying, or running VBA searches on SharePoint lists that are linked as tables within a Microsoft Access database.
Observed behavior: Linked tables lose connection or perform very slowly, records inexplicably show up as #DELETED, and runtime error 3167 occurs when interacting with the data.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting, ensure you have a stable network connection to your SharePoint environment and verify that you have the necessary permissions to read and modify the affected SharePoint lists.

Solution 1Recommended

Refresh or Relink the SharePoint Tables

Refreshing the connection or completely relinking the tables can clear temporary network disconnections and caching issues.

Because SharePoint operations run remotely over a network, temporary drops in connectivity can cause Access to lose track of the list, resulting in the #DELETED display.

Open Linked Table Manager

In Microsoft Access, navigate to the 'External Data' tab on the ribbon and click on 'Linked Table Manager'.

Select and Refresh Tables

Check the boxes next to the problematic SharePoint tables and click 'OK' to refresh the links. If prompted, re-enter your SharePoint credentials.

Delete and Relink (If Refresh Fails)

If refreshing does not work, delete the linked table from your Access navigation pane. Then, go to External Data > New Data Source > From Online Services > SharePoint List to create a fresh link.

VBA Relinking: SharePoint tables can also be refreshed or relinked programmatically using VBA if you frequently experience disconnections, though manual refreshing is recommended for isolated incidents.

Solution 2

Ensure Access Recognizes the Primary Key

Access requires a primary key to correctly identify, locate, and update records in linked SharePoint tables.

Solution 3

Archive Data to Reduce SharePoint List Size

Large SharePoint lists can cause indexing delays and query timeouts, leading to disconnected tables and extremely slow performance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Access linked tables suddenly show #DELETED?

This usually happens when the network connection to the remote SharePoint list is temporarily lost, a record was deleted by another user while you were viewing it, or Access fails to recognize the primary key of the linked list.

What does runtime error 3167 mean in Access?

Runtime error 3167 means 'Record is deleted.' In the context of linked SharePoint tables, it occurs if your VBA code tries to search, edit, or access a record that has lost its connection, failed to load due to a timeout, or was actually removed.

Why are SharePoint operations in Access so slow?

SharePoint lists are not true relational databases and operations must be transmitted remotely over a network. Complex queries, large datasets, and bulk data transfers will perform significantly slower than operations on a local Access database.

How can I speed up linked SharePoint lists in Access?

You can improve performance by archiving old records to keep active lists as small as possible, creating appropriate indices on the SharePoint list columns, and minimizing the amount of data pulled across the network by using highly selective queries.

Document & File Issues