Office Apps Freezing

Fix Microsoft Access Freezing When Updating Linked SharePoint Records

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

Microsoft Access freezes or crashes when users try to edit existing records through a form linked to a SharePoint list, although creating new records works without issues.

Product: Microsoft Access, SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing existing records in an Access database through a form linked to a SharePoint list.
Observed behavior: The application freezes or crashes during the update process for existing records, while new record creation remains unaffected.

Before you start

Verify that you can edit the records directly within the SharePoint list online to ensure it is not a server-side permissions issue, and ensure you have a backup copy of your Access database before making structural changes.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Access Cache and Check Microsoft Service Bulletins

Clearing the cache often resolves synchronization crashes between Microsoft Access and linked SharePoint lists.

This issue is frequently caused by caching conflicts when Access attempts to write back to SharePoint. Microsoft has acknowledged this in a specific article regarding Access crashes when updating a linked SharePoint list.

Open Access Options

Launch your database in Microsoft Access and navigate to File > Options.

Adjust Caching Settings

Click on 'Current Database' in the left menu, scroll down to the 'Caching Web Service and SharePoint tables' section, and check the box to 'Never Cache' or clear the existing cache.

Revert Recent Office Updates

If the problem started immediately after a Windows or Office update, use the Office Deployment Tool to revert to an earlier version of Microsoft Office to see if the issue goes away.

Check Admin Support: If the issue persists globally across your organization, have your IT administrator open a Microsoft 365 support ticket through the Admin Center.

Solution 2

Isolate the Issue with a Test Form

If direct SharePoint updates work but the form freezes, the issue might be isolated to the Access form design or corrupted SQL queries.

Solution 3

Test the Database in Exclusive Mode

Rule out record-locking conflicts caused by multiple users accessing the database simultaneously.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Access crash only on certain linked records?

This usually happens due to caching issues on the local machine or corrupted data in specific SharePoint list items. Clearing the Access cache often resolves the conflict.

Can multiple users edit a linked SharePoint list in Access at the same time?

Yes, but if record-locking is not configured correctly, it can cause the database to freeze when multiple users try to update the same or related records simultaneously.

How do I clear the cache for SharePoint linked tables in Microsoft Access?

Go to File > Options > Current Database, scroll down to the 'Caching Web Service and SharePoint tables' section, and check the option to 'Never Cache' or manually clear the existing cache.

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