VBA & Macro Problems

Fix Access and Excel VBA Compatibility After Office 2019 Update

Rana Garcia Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

After an Office 2019 update, an Access application fails to generate Excel template reports due to VBA compatibility issues.

Fix Access and Excel VBA Compatibility After an Office Update

Product: Microsoft Office 2019
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Generating Excel template reports from Microsoft Access using VBA macros.
Observed behavior: The VBA application stops generating the expected Excel reports after a recent Office update. Rolling back to the previous Office build restores functionality.

Before you start

Locate the exact file paths of your Access database and target Excel templates, and ensure you have administrative privileges on your computer to modify Trust Center security settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Check and Update VBA Object Library References

Missing or broken object library references are the most common cause of cross-application VBA failures after an Office update.

When Office updates are installed, the underlying DLL or OLB files used by VBA can be moved or upgraded to a newer version. If Access is looking for an older Excel library, the connection will break.

Open the VBA Editor

Launch both Microsoft Access and Microsoft Excel. Press the Alt + F11 keys simultaneously in both applications to open the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) editor.

Access the References Menu

In the VBA editor top menu, click on 'Tools' and select 'References' from the dropdown menu to open the list of available object libraries.

Fix Missing References

Scroll through the active references at the top of the list. Look for any checked box that begins with 'MISSING:'. Uncheck that specific box, then scroll down to find the updated equivalent (e.g., 'Microsoft Excel 16.0 Object Library'), check it, and click 'OK'.

Check and Update VBA Object Library References

Locating Libraries Manually: If you cannot find the updated library in the list, you can click the 'Browse' button in the References dialog to manually locate the EXCEL.EXE or object library file in your Program Files directory.

Solution 2

Verify Trust Center and Macro Security Settings

Office updates sometimes reset user security configurations to their restrictive defaults, blocking macros from running.

Solution 3

Roll Back the Office Update Temporarily

If adjusting the VBA code and references does not immediately resolve the issue, reverting to the previous Office build serves as a reliable temporary fix.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Need a More Stable Environment for Your Spreadsheets? Try WPS Office

While WPS Office does not include a direct equivalent to MS Access, it offers a highly compatible, robust, and free alternative to Microsoft Excel. If forced Office updates constantly disrupt your spreadsheet workflows and macros, consider using WPS Spreadsheet for managing complex datasets.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the setup file. The lightweight installation takes only a few minutes to complete.
3. Open Your Workbooks: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and seamlessly open your existing .xlsx and macro-enabled files without losing formatting.

High compatibility with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls, .csv, and .xlsm).Stable environment without disruptive forced updates breaking your workflow.Free to use with a lightweight installation and fast startup times.Familiar user interface ensuring a seamless migration with a minimal learning curve.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Office updates frequently break VBA macros?

Office updates often modify, relocate, or deprecate the core object libraries (like the Microsoft Excel Object Library) that VBA relies on. If the specific file paths or methods change, external applications like Access can no longer communicate with Excel.

What does a 'MISSING' reference mean in the VBA Editor?

A 'MISSING' prefix in the VBA References dialog indicates that the macro is trying to utilize an object library or DLL file that is no longer installed on your computer, or it has been moved from its expected directory.

Can I run my Access export macros without Excel installed?

No. If your VBA code is written to specifically create, format, or manipulate Microsoft Excel templates using Excel objects (like Workbooks or Worksheets), the Excel application and its corresponding object library must be present on the system.

Excel & Data Problems