How to fix corrupted Microsoft Access databases

by Matthew Adams

Windows & Software Expert

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• Whenever database apps are needed, Microsoft Access is the first program that pops into our minds.
• If your database files got corrupted and you did not back them up in time, there is a way (actually 4 ways) to fix them - check out these solutions.
• Since digital assets with always get corrupted over time, go ahead and take a look at these Best Tools to Repair Corrupted Files.
• Feel free to explore our Microsoft Office Hub as well for more useful tips on dealing with the famous suite.

Access is one of the industry’s foremost database applications that’s included within the Microsoft Office suite. Access databases might be essential files for some users as they retain records, so it’s a good idea to keep a database backup as a precaution for file corruption.

Yet, there are probably some users who don’t back up their database files; and they’ll need to repair corrupted Access MDB or ACCDB files.

If your Access database is corrupted, and you don’t have a handy backup, check out some of the fixes below.

How can I solve Microsoft Access database corruption issues?

1. Fix corrupted access database with Hetman Office Recovery
2. Select the Compact and Repair Database tool in Access
3. Open the Jet Compact utility
4. Fix Access Database files at OfficeRecovery.com

1. Fix corrupted access database with Hetman Office Recovery

You can fix corrupted Access files with third-party database repair software such as Hetman Office Recovery. This tool provides native file support for Microsoft’s popular formats and more.

In fact, versatility is a quintessential characteristic of  Hetman Office Recovery and it does justice to its reputation by seamlessly working with all types of platforms, devices, storage media including all SSD, HDD, USB pen drives, NAS and all versions of FAT and NTFS.

Moreover, not even damaged devices can stand a chance against this powerful recovery tool.

Through sophisticated disk analysis algorithms, Hetman Office Recovery will help you retrieve and access database files (and others) from formatted, repartitioned, corrupted, inaccessible, worn, and physically unstable disks and partitions.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

• Recovers database files from formatted and repartitioned drives, corrupted partitions, removable media and storage devices
• Fully compatible with Microsoft Office and other file formats
• Supports all types of storage media (HDD, SSD, memory cards, USB pen drives, NAS and even VM)
• Advanced File Recovery Engine to retrieve data from damaged, corrupted, and inaccessible devices
• Sophisticated signature search algorithms for successful recovery
• Intuitive and user-friendly interface with an integrated step-by-step wizard to assist throughout the recovery process and integrity validation check-up
• Burn files onto a CD/DVD, create ISO images, or upload the files onto an FTP server
• Searching and Filtering functions to easily locate any file

Hetman Office Recovery

Retrieve and access database files from any devices, no matter how damaged or how corrupted!

2. Select the Compact and Repair Database tool in Access

First, check out the Compact and Repair Database tool included within Access. That tool can repair corrupted Access database files.

This is how you can fix databases with the Compact and Repair Database tool:

• Open the Access application.
• Select the Database Tools tab.
• Then click the Compact and Repair Database option on the tab.
• A Database to Compact From window will then open from which you can select a database file to repair.
• Press the Compact button.
• Next, enter a new file title in the Compact Database Into dialog box that opens; and select a folder to save it to.
• Click the Save button. Thereafter, you will have a fresh database that you can open in Access.

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3. Open the Jet Compact utility

There’s also a separate Microsoft Jet Compact utility (Jetcomp) that Access users can repair corrupted databases with.

Jetcomp is pretty similar to the built-in Compact and Repair tool in Access as it compacts databases. However, Jetcomp is certainly worth noting if the Compact and Repair Database utility in Access doesn’t repair your MDB or ACCDB file.

• You can click Download JETCOMP.EXE now on this page to save the utility to a folder.
• Click JetCU40.exe in the folder you saved it to open the window shown directly below.

• Click the Browse button to select a folder to extract Jet Comp to, and click the OK button.
• Open the folder that includes the extracted utility, and click JetComp.exe to open the Database Compact Utility 4.0 window.

• Click the … button for the Database to Compact From box to select a corrupted database.
• Then click the … button for the Database to Compact Into box to choose a path to save the newly compacted database. Add a file title for the database to the end of the path if required.
• Press the Compact button.

4. Fix Access Database files at OfficeRecovery.com

OfficeRecovery.com includes a few web tools that MS Office users can fix files with. You can fix MDB and ACCDB files with the Repair Access Database ONLINE utility at OfficeRecovery.com.

Open the Repair Access Database in your browser.

Then press the Choose file button to select a corrupted database, and click the Secure Upload and Repair button to fix it.

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So that’s how you can fix corrupted MS Access database files. Check out the built-in repair option and gradually move on or go directly for a third-party tool and skip the troubleshooting process.

Whatever is your method of choice, it’s guaranteed to work. Let us know how it went by reaching for the comments section below.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in September 2018 and has been since revamped and updated in July 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

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