Recordset is not updateable -- where is help on MS Access 365?

Rob Curtis 20

For years I have just used Access 2007 on my laptop, though I have Office 365. As the disc wouldn't work on my Win11 PC, and the laptop has a problem, I finally decided to use the later access, and opened a 2007 database. I updated a number of records in a table and then I went to a query and found that now,it says the recordset is not updateable. I has always been so on the laptop for decades.

When I first opened the 365 Access, it said something about needing to be the administrator, but it seemed to make no difference till I went to change records in the query. I am the sole user of this personal computer and thus the administrator, so if that is why and it doesn't know that, what do I do.

Rob Curtis 20 Reputation points

2026-07-12T05:56:56.03+00:00

I looked and it says I am the adminstrator. No wonder I didn't want to update, as I remember not liking 2007 Access compared to the one I learned on. STUCK.

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Rob Curtis 20 Reputation points

2026-07-12T18:11:15.8133333+00:00

I am wondering why this worked for nearly decades with Access 2007, and then when I transfer the database trom my laptop to my PC and use Access 365, it becomes not updateable. I have another table where a primary key is used, just to number new entries, and in a query, using it. it never could be updated, the way it depends on the table.

I put primary key in search and reading about locked property. The way I used the table is if I get a species ID, I update the records easily. Does primary make species only show once? It is unique but sometimes the subjet(common name, may vary, like if it is a morph. I don't fully understand.
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George Hepworth 23,120 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-07-13T20:34:22.47+00:00

Unfortunately, you cropped the screenshot to eliminate useful information such as field names and omitting the Primary Key field. It's also unclear if this is a query or a table, although I'm leaning toward it being a query.

Show use the SQL for the query, if it is, in fact a query. Thank you.

Also, you didn't report whether an error is raised when you try to add records, and if so, what that error is. Or, if there is no error raised, tell us exactly what does happen.

Finally, one possible issue would be whether the accdb is in a Trusted Location on the computer to which you copied it.

Thanks for providing sufficient information for use to help you.

Rob Curtis 20 Reputation points

2026-07-14T04:32:54.8+00:00

I was just showing how multiple records of animals are possible, necesary actually.

When I try to change or correct anything, I get the mesage that it is not updateable. Always was on the laptop with Access 2007,before I put on this PC with Access 365. I am the only user of either computers.
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Karl Donaubauer 3,501 Reputation points MVP

2026-07-12T12:02:18.09+00:00

Hi,

A table without primary key is always in danger to be not updateable in queries where you have other tables too. If you still need help, then you could go to the SQL view of the query and post the SQL text here.

Servus
Karl

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Access-Entwickler-Konferenz AEK
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Anonymous

2026-07-12T06:26:00.6233333+00:00
Hi Rob Curtis

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A Forum.

Based on your description, I understand that you can still update records directly in the table, but receive the "This Recordset is not updateable" error when working with the query in Access for Microsoft 365.

Since you mentioned that you have already confirmed you are using an administrator account, to help narrow down the cause, could you please check the following?
1. In Design View, does each table used in the query still have a Primary Key set (look for the key icon next to a field)?
2. How many tables does this query pull data from, and how are they joined?
3. Does the query include Totals (SUM, COUNT, AVG), or is it a Crosstab or Union query?
If possible, could you also send the following screenshots through a private message?
- The query in Design View.
- The relationships between the tables used by the query (if applicable).
Please understand that our initial reply may not always immediately resolve the issue. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.

I look forward to your update.

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.
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Rob Curtis 20 Reputation points

2026-07-12T11:18:12.87+00:00

there is no primary key, the the slide # allows no duplicates, so acts as one. I am attaching the screenshot of this simple query that allows me to keep track of new species added to the table and in further conjunctions allows me to have a phlylogenetically sorted report of all species. that report has numbers of species and numbers of images or videos of each. This occurs after I add a new species in the animals table, which has family names.

Attaching the problem query here, thanks.

Rob Curtis 20 Reputation points

2026-07-12T11:30:01.2333333+00:00

There is no primary key, the the slide # allows no duplicates, so acts as one. I am attaching the screenshot of this simple query that allows me to keep track of new species added to the table and in further conjunctions allows me to have a phlylogenetically sorted report of all species. that report has numbers of species and numbers of images or videos of each. This occurs after I add a new species in the animals table, which has family names. I get a spincircle when I try to add the image here, though it shows and is small.

Rob Curtis 20 Reputation points

2026-07-12T15:55:09.0166667+00:00

hERE IS THE sql

Duane Hookom 26,935 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-07-12T16:55:32.85+00:00

Try make the [animals 3].Species a primary key. Tables with numeric suffixes generally suggest an unnormalized database table structure.

Anonymous

2026-07-14T04:48:52.3633333+00:00

Hi Rob Curtis

Thank you for your update and for sharing the additional information.

Based on the details you've provided, and as Duane mentioned, I'd recommend trying to define a Primary Key for the appropriate table (for example, [animals 3].[Species] if each species is unique) and then testing whether the query becomes updateable.

I understand why this is confusing, especially since the same database worked as expected in Access 2007 for many years. However, based on the information available so far, I can't determine whether the change in behavior is related to the Access version itself or to differences in how the database is being interpreted in the new environment.

Please note that we're not Microsoft Support; this is a user-to-user community forum. Moderators here don't have access to your environment or Microsoft's backend systems, so I can only provide guidance based on public documentation and community experience.

Please let me know the results after trying this. If the issue persists, I'll be happy to continue investigating it with you.

Best regards,
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Recordset is not updateable -- where is help on MS Access 365?

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