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How to Locate All Microsoft Access Database Files on a Network

WPS Content Manager Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is looking for an effective method to scan a computer network or local machine for Microsoft Access database files (.accdb) and wants to know if Microsoft Purview is suitable for this task.

How to Locate All Microsoft Access Database Files on a Network

Product: Microsoft Access
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Searching and inventorying specific database file types across local computer drives and entire network environments.
Observed behavior: Seeking clarification on Purview's capabilities and looking for software recommendations capable of comprehensively locating all ACCDB files.

Before you start

Verify that you have the appropriate network permissions and administrative access to the drives you intend to scan, as restricted folders will hide files from any search utility.

Solution 1Recommended

Use 'Everything' by voidtools for Local and Mapped Network Searches

Everything is a fast, lightweight search tool that instantly indexes file names and can be configured to search mapped network drives.

While Microsoft Purview is designed for enterprise data governance and might not be practical for a simple network-wide file inventory, a dedicated search utility like 'Everything' is highly effective for local PCs and mapped network folders.

Download and Install Everything

Visit the official voidtools.com website, download the Everything installer, and run the setup process on your computer.

Configure Network Drive Indexing

Open Everything, go to Tools > Options > Folders, and click 'Add' to include your mapped network drives in the search index.

Search for Access Databases

In the search bar at the top, type '*.accdb' to instantly filter and display all Microsoft Access database files located in the indexed directories.

Use 'Everything' by voidtools for Local and Mapped Network Searches

Fast Indexing: Everything relies on the NTFS Master File Table for local drives, making initial indexing incredibly fast before it scans added network folders.

Solution 2

Deploy Dedicated Endpoint Management for Large Networks

For enterprise environments where mapping every network drive to a single PC is impossible, endpoint management solutions are required.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

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While WPS Office does not include a direct database replacement for Microsoft Access, it is an excellent, lightweight alternative for your other office needs. If you regularly work with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, WPS Office provides an all-in-one solution that is highly compatible and completely free to use.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Microsoft Purview to locate all Access databases?

While Microsoft Purview has data discovery capabilities, it is designed for compliance and data governance rather than acting as a universal file search tool. It is typically not recommended for simply inventorying ACCDB files across an entire network.

How do I search for older Microsoft Access files?

Older Microsoft Access databases use the '.mdb' extension. You can search for these using the same tools by typing '*.mdb' instead of '*.accdb', or combine them in Windows Search using 'ext:accdb OR ext:mdb'.

Why is Windows Search slow on network drives?

Windows Search relies on a local index. When searching a network drive that is not indexed locally, it must query the remote server file by file, which takes significantly more time. Third-party tools like 'Everything' can cache network folder indexes to speed this up.

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