Fix 64-Bit Access DSN Missing in ODBC Data Sources After Office Install
Question details
The user is unable to locate a successfully created 64-bit Microsoft Access DSN in the ODBC Data Source Administrator after installing 64-bit Microsoft 365 Office.
- Product
- Microsoft Access
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Configuring database connections via ODBC after a 64-bit Microsoft 365 Office installation.
- Observed behavior
- The 64-bit Access DSN is created successfully but fails to appear in the 64-bit ODBC Data Source Administrator tool.
Ensure you have administrative privileges on your Windows system, as modifying ODBC data sources and accessing system directories requires elevated permissions.
Verify and Run the 64-Bit ODBC Data Source Administrator
Windows has separate 32-bit and 64-bit ODBC tools. Ensuring you launch the correct 64-bit executable is crucial for viewing 64-bit DSNs.
Due to Windows architecture, the 32-bit and 64-bit ODBC administrators are stored in different directories. Opening the wrong one will hide your newly created 64-bit DSNs.
Press Win + E to open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\.
Find the file named odbcad32.exe. Despite the '32' in its name, the version located in the System32 folder is the 64-bit administrator.
Right-click odbcad32.exe and select 'Run as administrator' to ensure you have the necessary permissions to view and edit System DSNs.
Navigate to the 'System DSN' or 'User DSN' tab to check if your 64-bit Access DSN is now visible.
Check the Installed Access Driver Architecture
If the Microsoft Access Database Engine driver installed is 32-bit instead of 64-bit, it will not appear in the 64-bit ODBC Administrator.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 64-bit ODBC administrator named odbcad32.exe?
For backward compatibility reasons, Windows retains the name odbcad32.exe for both versions. The 64-bit version is located in C:\Windows\System32, while the 32-bit version is located in C:\Windows\SysWOW64.
Can I install both 32-bit and 64-bit Access Database Engines on the same machine?
Officially, Microsoft does not support installing both 32-bit and 64-bit Office or Access Database Engine components on the same machine, as it can cause registry conflicts and missing DSN issues.
What should I do if my System DSN still doesn't appear after running as administrator?
You may need to check the Windows Registry. Compare the ODBC configuration keys under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ODBC before and after your Office installation to ensure the DSN entries weren't overwritten or misconfigured.
