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Use an old mdb file in Microsoft Acces

Paul Aznar 0 Reputation points
2026-04-04T18:30:59.1233333+00:00

I have an old file .mdb that i used to open in Microsoft Acces in a Windows xp computer but I don't know how to move it to a modern computer without losing macros/scripts.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Access | For business | Windows
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  1. Daniel Pineault 626 Reputation points
    2026-04-29T07:59:11.1566667+00:00

    Macros and VBA code are all embedded within the mdb file itself, so there should be no issue. You should be able to simply copy/paste the file to a new PC and run it. If this doesn't work, please post details about what occurs, specific error messages, ... so we can better understand the issue at hand.

    That said, mdb files are 20 years deprecated and there are major compatibility issues with modern versions of Access. You may first need to use an intermediary version of Access (say Access 2010 or 2013) to upgrade the file format from mdb to accdb before being able to use it on more recent versions of Access like MS365.

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  2. DBG 11,711 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-04-04T18:39:29.7166667+00:00

    Do you know which version you used to create that MDB? Are you getting an error when you try to open it with your new version of Access?

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  3. AI answer

    2026-04-04T18:31:11.6166667+00:00

    To move and use an old .mdb file on a modern computer without losing macros and scripts, follow these guidelines:

    1. Copy the .mdb file to the new computer
      • Use a USB drive, network share, or other storage to copy the .mdb file from the Windows XP machine to the new computer.
      • This does not change or remove macros/scripts; they are stored inside the .mdb file.
    2. Open the .mdb in a modern version of Access
      • Install a current version of Access (for example, Access from Microsoft 365 or Access 2016/2019/2021).
      • In Access, select File > Open, browse to the copied .mdb file, and open it.
      • Access can still open and use .mdb files (especially Access 2000, 2002–2003 formats) normally, including macros and VBA, although newer .accdb-only features will not be available inside that .mdb.
    3. Decide whether to keep it as .mdb or convert to .accdb
      • If the database relies on:
        • replication,
        • user-level security, or
        • needs to be used by very old Access versions (pre‑2007), then keep it as .mdb. Macros/scripts will continue to work in that format.
      • If it does not rely on those features and will only be used in Access 2007 or later, it can be converted to .accdb:
        • Open the .mdb in Access.
        • Use File > Save Database As and choose an .accdb format.
        • This creates a new .accdb copy; the original .mdb (with all macros/scripts) remains unchanged as a backup.
    4. Using the .mdb in mixed Access versions (optional)
      • If some users stay on an older Access version while others use a newer one, keep the original .mdb as the back-end data file and create a new front-end in the newer Access version that links to the same tables. This lets newer Access users work with the data while preserving the original .mdb (and its macros/scripts) for older clients.

    As long as the .mdb file is copied intact and opened directly in Access, macros and scripts stored in that file are not lost.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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