How to Fix Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB Error -2147217865 with SharePoint Lists
Question details
Users need to resolve the Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB error -2147217865 encountered while attempting to read or query a SharePoint list from an external application.
- Product
- Microsoft Access Database Engine
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Connecting an application to a SharePoint list using the Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB data provider.
- Observed behavior
- The application intermittently or constantly returns error -2147217865, preventing data retrieval from the SharePoint list.
Ensure you have administrator privileges on your local Windows machine to install or modify database engine components, and verify you have read permissions for the target SharePoint list.
Match Architecture and Reinstall Microsoft Access Database Engine
The most common cause of OLEDB provider errors is a mismatch between the bitness (32-bit vs 64-bit) of your calling application and the installed ACE.OLEDB engine.
If your application is compiled as a 32-bit process, it cannot utilize a 64-bit OLEDB provider, and vice versa. Installing the correct Access Database Engine Redistributable aligns the architectures and resolves registration errors.
Determine whether the application or script you are using to query SharePoint is running as a 32-bit or 64-bit process.
Navigate to the official Microsoft download page for the Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 or 2016 Redistributable.
Run the downloaded installer that strictly matches your application's architecture. Choose the x64 installer for 64-bit apps, or the x86 installer for 32-bit apps.
Fully close and restart your development environment, application, or service to ensure the newly registered OLEDB provider is loaded correctly.
Verify Connection String and SharePoint Permissions
Incorrect credentials, invalid URLs, or missing list permissions can trigger this OLEDB error during the connection handshake.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the ACE.OLEDB provider intermittently fail on SharePoint lists?
Intermittent failures often occur due to temporary network latency, SharePoint server throttling, or token expiration. Adding retry logic to your application's connection string usually resolves these sporadic drops.
Can I install both 32-bit and 64-bit Access Database Engines on the same machine?
By default, Microsoft does not support installing both architectures side-by-side. You must align your application's architecture with the single installed version of the ACE.OLEDB provider, though some advanced workarounds exist using silent installation flags.
Is the Access Database Engine 2010 Redistributable still supported?
Access Database Engine 2010 is older and may lack support for newer security protocols. Whenever possible, it is recommended to upgrade to the Access Database Engine 2016 Redistributable for better compatibility and security updates.
How can I check if the ACE.OLEDB provider is properly registered on my PC?
You can check your Windows Registry under 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes' to see if 'Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0' (or 16.0) exists, or use a simple PowerShell script to attempt to instantiate the COM object.
