Office Compatibility Issues

Fix Missing ADODB Provider in 64-Bit Microsoft Office

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 871 views

Question details

Users need to restore database connectivity for an Access database that fails to run after upgrading a machine to 64-bit Microsoft Office.

Product: Microsoft Office
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to connect an application to an Access database after upgrading from 32-bit to 64-bit Office.
Observed behavior: The database connection fails because the required ACE or ADODB provider components are missing or have a bitness that is incompatible with the new 64-bit Office environment.

Before you start

Verify the exact bitness of your current Microsoft Office installation (32-bit or 64-bit) and confirm which version of the ACE OLE DB provider your application's connection string is trying to call.

Solution 1Recommended

Install the 64-Bit Microsoft Access Database Engine

This solution provides the necessary 64-bit OLE DB components to match your 64-bit Office installation, resolving the bitness mismatch.

A 64-bit Office environment cannot utilize 32-bit database drivers. To establish a connection, the 64-bit version of the Access Database Engine must be explicitly installed on the computer.

Download the Redistributable

Visit the official Microsoft download center and search for the Microsoft Access Database Engine redistributable. Select the 64-bit (x64) version for download.

Perform a Clean Installation

Run the downloaded installer file. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete a clean installation of the 64-bit engine components.

Update the Connection String

Open your application's database configuration file or code. Update the connection string to reflect the newly installed provider version, such as changing it to 'Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;' or 'Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.16.0;' depending on your installation.

Important Configuration Detail: Changing the connection string alone will not resolve the issue; the required 64-bit provider components must be successfully installed first.

Solution 2

Revert to 32-Bit Microsoft Office

If your database or third-party add-ins are strictly dependent on 32-bit architecture, reverting Office is the most stable workaround.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Access database work on 32-bit computers but fail on 64-bit systems?

A 64-bit Office installation requires 64-bit OLE DB providers to read database files. If your connection string targets a 32-bit ADODB or ACE provider, the 64-bit system cannot execute it until the 64-bit equivalent is installed.

How do I know whether to use ACE OLEDB 12.0 or 16.0?

The version depends on the specific Access Database Engine installed on your computer. Version 12.0 corresponds to Office 2010 components, while version 16.0 corresponds to Office 2016 and newer. You must match your connection string to the installed version.

Can I install both the 32-bit and 64-bit Access Database Engine on the same PC?

Microsoft strongly advises against installing 32-bit and 64-bit Office components on the same machine, as this can cause registry conflicts and application crashes. Always align your database engine bitness with your Office suite bitness.

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