Office Settings & Configuration

How to Create an Access Trusted Location Without Microsoft Access

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

Configure a Trusted Location for an Access ACCDE front end when the full Microsoft Access application is unavailable.

Product: Microsoft Access Runtime
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Running an Access ACCDE file using Access Runtime, requiring a trusted folder to execute properly without the standard Trust Center UI.
Observed behavior: Users cannot approve a location through the application interface because Access Runtime does not provide a built-in way to manage Trusted Locations.

Before you start

Verify your system permissions, as creating a Trusted Location without the full application requires modifying the Windows Registry or requesting an IT deployment.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure Trusted Location via Registry Editor

Manually add the trusted folder path directly into the Windows Registry to bypass the missing Trust Center interface.

Because Access Runtime lacks the graphical interface for security settings, the registry is the primary manual method for designating a Trusted Location. This requires administrative privileges.

Open Registry Editor

Press Win + R on your keyboard, type 'regedit' into the Run dialog, and press Enter to launch the Registry Editor.

Navigate to the Access Security Key

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\[Version]\Access\Security\Trusted Locations. Replace [Version] with your installed Office version number (e.g., 16.0 for Office 2016 and newer).

Create a New Location Key

Right-click on the 'Trusted Locations' folder, select New > Key, and assign it a unique name, such as 'Location1'.

Define the Folder Path

Inside the new key, right-click the empty space, select New > String Value, and name it 'Path'. Double-click 'Path' and paste the exact directory path of your ACCDE file into the Value data field.

Solution 2

Deploy Configuration via IT Script or Group Policy

Use organizational policies or scripts to deploy trusted locations securely for users without registry editing permissions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I set a Trusted Location directly in Access Runtime?

Access Runtime is designed strictly for executing pre-built databases. It omits the design environments and configuration interfaces—including the Trust Center—that are available in the full Microsoft Access application.

What happens if my ACCDE file is not in a Trusted Location?

Without a Trusted Location, Access Runtime enforces strict security policies that typically block macros and VBA code from running, which can render the database front end completely unusable.

Do I need administrator rights to add a Trusted Location via the registry?

Yes, modifying the Windows Registry requires elevated privileges. If you are on a restricted corporate network, you must contact your IT administrator to deploy the registry changes.

Can I trust network drives for Access Runtime?

Yes, but you must enable the 'AllowNetworkLocations' registry key under the main Trusted Locations folder, setting its DWORD value to 1, before trusting specific network paths.

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