Office Compatibility Issues

How to Fix Microsoft TreeView Add-In Compatibility with 64-Bit Access 2016

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 872 views

Question details

The user needs to find a solution for running the legacy Microsoft TreeView control in a 64-bit Microsoft Access 2016 environment.

Product: Microsoft Access 2016
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to run a database application that relies on the Microsoft TreeView control in the 64-bit version of Microsoft Access.
Observed behavior: The application fails or produces errors because the legacy Microsoft TreeView control depends on older 32-bit ActiveX components that are natively incompatible with 64-bit Access.

Before you start

Open Microsoft Access, go to 'File' > 'Account' > 'About Access', and verify whether you are currently running the 32-bit or 64-bit version of the software.

Solution 1Recommended

Implement an All-VBA TreeView Alternative

The most robust long-term solution is to replace the legacy ActiveX control with a modern, all-VBA MSForms TreeView control that works natively in both 32-bit and 64-bit environments.

Since ActiveX controls like mscomctl.ocx are primarily 32-bit, using a VBA-based alternative eliminates architecture dependencies. This ensures your Access database remains functional regardless of the Office bit-version.

Download the VBA Alternative

Visit a trusted resource like jkp-ads.com to download the MSForms TreeView alternative designed for Access, Excel, and Word.

Import the Modules

Open your Access database, press Alt + F11 to open the VBA Editor, and import the provided class modules and user forms into your project.

Replace Existing Controls

Open your forms in Design View, delete the legacy Microsoft TreeView controls, and insert the newly imported MSForms TreeView control.

Update VBA Code Syntax

Modify your existing VBA scripts that populate the tree to match the slightly different properties and methods of the all-VBA TreeView control.

Cross-Platform Compatibility: Using an all-VBA solution completely resolves the bit-architecture conflict and makes your database easier to distribute to users with varying Office setups.

Solution 2

Switch to 32-Bit Microsoft Access

If you cannot rewrite your application code, reverting to the 32-bit version of Microsoft Office will restore native functionality to the legacy TreeView ActiveX control.

Solution 3

Apply Updated 64-bit mscomctl Controls

Recent Office updates and community workarounds provide ways to reference a newer 64-bit compatible mscomctl.ocx library.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Microsoft TreeView control incompatible with 64-bit Access?

The legacy Microsoft TreeView control is part of the Windows Common Controls library (mscomctl.ocx), which was originally developed as a 32-bit ActiveX component. 64-bit applications cannot natively load or run 32-bit ActiveX controls.

Can I use VBA to create a TreeView control that works in 64-bit Office?

Yes. You can use an all-VBA alternative like the MSForms TreeView. Because it relies entirely on standard VBA and built-in user forms rather than external ActiveX controls, it functions perfectly in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Office.

Should I use 32-bit or 64-bit Microsoft Office?

If you process extremely large datasets, especially in Excel, the 64-bit version is recommended. However, if your business relies on older databases with legacy 32-bit ActiveX controls or older third-party add-ins, you should install the 32-bit version to maintain compatibility.

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