Summary: As there are many Access database repair tools available in the market, it isn't easy to choose the one that suits your needs. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the best 10 Access repair software, along with their pros and cons, to help you choose the best one as per your needs. You can download the free trial version of Stellar Repair for Access software covered in this post from the following link:
Access database stores valuable data in the form of Tables, Forms, Reports and other structures. It may encounter corruption-related issues, even in the highly secure systems. The Compact and Repair utility helps in recovering the database, only to a certain extent.
There are Access repair software that specializes in repairing and recovering the database from corrupt files. So, we evaluated a few such Access repair software and, based on their relative based on their feature set and functionality, present the top 10 Access repair software in this post.
Scroll through to understand which software is best suited for your needs:
#1. Stellar Repair for Access
“Professional software to repair corrupt Microsoft Access database files.”
Stellar Repair for Access fixes the corruption errors in Microsoft Access database such as ‘unrecognized database format error’, ‘database in inconsistent state’, ‘error in binary file format’ etc., and provides assured recovery. It displays a preview of the scanned database objects and lets you perform the consistency check on individual database components. The preview provides information in the form of ‘Table Data’ and ‘Column Information’ to simplify the verification process.
Its ability to repair the ‘Relationships’ in the damaged database and retrieve them in repaired Access database table is not found in many of its counterparts.
Developed by Stellar, the software can be downloaded safely and assures recovery of all database objects such as Tables, Forms, Deleted Records, Macros, Linked Tables, Indexes, Modules, etc.
- Repairs ACCDB and MDB files
- OS Support: Windows 10 / 8.1 / 8 / 7/ Vista / 2003 / XP
- Supports Microsoft Access 2019, 2016, 2013,2010, 2007 and the earlier versions
Pros:
- Offers an intuitive interface to repairs corrupt ACCDB and MDB files of Access database with just a few clicks
- Resolves all corruption errors – inconsistent state, unrecognized database format error, etc.
- The alternative of Compact and Repair utility suits all – individual professionals and the enterprises
- Retrieves password protected forms and modules
- Repairs Access database corruption occurring in all database objects such as Tables, Deleted Records, Forms, Macros, Linked Tables, Indexes, Modules, etc.
- Recovers all objects including Deleted Records, Macros, Modules and Relational Databases to a new database
- Provides preview of scanned database objects for selective and precise recovery
- Recovers the data entered in regional languages
- Saves the repaired database at user-specified location
- Technician version of the software can be installed on multiple systems
Cons:
- The trial version does not allow to save the repaired Access database.
#2.DiskInternals Access recovery
“Undelete, recover and repair corrupted databases“
Developed by DiskInternals, Access Recovery software is a good tool for Access data recovery. The software consists of two modules – one to repair the corrupt Microsoft Access databases and the other to undelete or recover Access database files from damaged disks. Access Recovery tool splits the database by record and assembles them back into a working database.
- Repairs ACCDB and MDB files
- Supports Microsoft Access 2007, 2003, and 2000 versions
Pros
- Equipped with ‘Uneraser’ engine to unerase deleted databases from inaccessible hard drive
- Locates and recovers Access database files from damaged or formatted hard drive and corrupt file system
- Recovers System Tables
- Recovers and repairs Microsoft Money .mny databases
- Provides preview of recoverable database
Cons
- Does not recover Queries, Reports, Forms and Modules. Repairs only Tables
- Reconstructs the database structure by splitting and assembling the database record by record, which may not be the best process to recover the Access database. Output database may be corrupted.
- Does not recover complete data from damaged hard drive. The software gets stuck after recovering 75% of the hard drive Access data.
- Creates a new database only in Microsoft Access 2000-2003 format
#3. Kernel for Access Database Repair
“Repair corrupt MDB/ACCDB files from corrupt & damaged Access databases“
Another tool that can recover the corrupt MDB and ACCDB files is Kernel for Access Database Repair. The software has two modes of recovery – Standard and Template to be used as per intensity of corruption. It restores the database objects with total data integrity including original formatting, table relationships and file properties. It can also convert the database available in MDE format to MDB format.
- Repairs MDB, MDE, ACCDB files
- OS Support Windows 10/ 8.1/ 8/ 7/ Vista/ XP/ 2000/ 98/ NT/ 95
- Supports MS Access 2019/ 2016/ 2013/ 2010/ 2007/ 2003/ XP/ 2000/ 97/ 95
Pros
- Restores Table structure and internal data structures
- Recovers Memo data, OLE data, table relationships, and original date format
- Retrieves deleted objects and records from corrupted database
- Provides preview of recovered data
- Recovers data from password protected Access database files
Cons
- After testing, the software did not need password to access the file data but there was no data recovery from password protected files
- Trial version of the software does not allow to save the database
#4. AccessFIX
“Access database repair software“
AccessFIX from Cimaware is used to repair and recover the corrupt, lost or deleted Microsoft Access database. The software repairs ACCDB, ACCDE, MDE and MDB files and recovers Visual Basic, attachment fields, field properties, forms, and macros to save it into a new trouble-free file. It is known to fix various errors in Access database such as ‘Microsoft Access can’t open the table in Datasheet view’, ‘The Visual Basic for Applications project in the database is corrupt’ and more.
- Repairs ACCDB, ACCDE, MDB and MDE files
- OS Support: Windows 98 to Windows® 10.
- Supports Microsoft Access 365, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, 2002 (XP), 2000, 97 and 95.
Pros
- Recovers data from broken, corrupt or truncated Access database files
- Retrieves Tables, Forms, Reports, Macros, Visual Basic, Linked Tables, and deleted records
- Clears Admin password from any Table or object and recovers Access data from password-protected files and encrypted MDB files
- Software and its documentation are available in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Dutch, and Italian
- Decodes non-western characters and Unicode text in fields and object names
Cons
- Trial version of the software does not allow to save the repaired data
- Multiple file recovery does not provide the preview of repaired data
- Doesn’t provide a Log Report of Access data recovery process.
- Option to search the file is not available
#5. Recovery Toolbox for Access
“Recovery Toolbox for Access repairs damaged MDB and ACCDB files.“
Recovery Toolbox for Access recovers data and structures from the corrupted Microsoft Access databases. The software provides a preview of the ‘structure of the data’ and the ‘data extracted from the damaged database file’ and saves the data. It repairs both MDB and ACCDB files and supports recovery of Unicode data.
- Repairs incorrect ACCDB and MDB files
- OS Support: Windows 10/ 8/ 7/ Vista/ XP/2000/ Me/ 98
- Supports Microsoft Access 2019, 2016, 2013,2010, 2007 and 2003 versions
Pros
- Repairs data of corrupted or damaged Tables
- Provides online service to repair damaged files containing Microsoft Access database
- Recovers Primary and Foreign keys Indexes, Viewers, Deleted Tables and Queries
- Recovers Deleted Records into a separate Table
- Provides preview of recovered data, structures and scripts
- Facilitates recovery of Unicode data
Cons
- Does not repair Forms, Macros, Modules and Reports
- Does not recover Access data from password protected files
- Does not recover the scripts linked with Forms and Reports
- Trial version does not provide option to save Access database
- Issues in repairing online Access data
#6. DataNumen Access Repair
“Free Access repair software for personal use“
DataNumen Access Repair software provides a solution for the common Access errors such as ‘Unrecognized database format ‘filename.mdb’’, ‘the database filename.mdb needs to be repaired or isn’t a database file’ and other Access errors.
- Repairs a batch of Access MDB and ACCDB files
- OS Support: Windows 95 to Windows 10 and Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016.
- Microsoft Access 95, 97, 2000, 2002(XP), 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and Access for Office 365 databases
Pros
- Repairs single or a batch of ACCDB and MDB files.
- Recovers the structure and records of the tables in Access databases
- Supports to recover MEMO and OLE fields, auto number fields, relations, queries and indexes
- Used as computer forensic tool and electronic discovery tool
- Supports command line (DOS prompt) parameters
- Fixes Access files on corrupted media, such as floppy disks, Zip disks, CDROMs, etc.
Cons
- Claims to refund order if other tools can recover more data, but this is not a proper claim.
- The table on the website with comparison of top database repair software is not supported by facts and figures.
- Unable to recover database from password-encrypted Access files
- No preview facility to confirm if the data is repaired and available
- Doesn’t recover deleted records, forms, reports, or modules
#7. SysTools Access Recovery
“Tool to Recover and Repair Severely Corrupt MS Access Database File“
SysTools Access Recovery software repairs Access database corruption and recovers data in multiple languages. The software exports and saves the repaired database with Schema and Schema and data. The software resolves the error when an MDB file gets corrupted due to large data-size.
- Repairs MDB and ACCDB files
- OS Support: Windows 2000 to Windows 10 (32-bit & 64-bit)
- Suppors MS Access 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007 & all below versions.
Pros
- Repairs Tables, Queries and Reports, Forms and Indexes, Relational Databases and Macros and Modules.
- Repairs extremely corrupt MDB and ACCDB files in three simple steps
- Provides a preview of scanned Table and allows moving the items by arranging the attributes
- Exports the database in Access and CSV file format
- Recovers Table-information available in non-English languages
Cons
- Systool Access repair software doesn’t support MS Access 2019
- Does not recover data from encrypted files
- Requires Microsoft .Net framework 4.5 or above for installation
#8. Recovery for Access (officerecovery)
“Data recovery software for corrupted Microsoft® Access databases”
Introduction
Recovery for Access is an Access repair software to repair corrupted database. With this software, users can view and extract selective database items by using Recovery for Access database browser.
- Repairs corrupted MDB, MDE, MDW, MDA, ACCDB and ACCDE files
- Supports MS Access 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, 2002, 2000, 97, 95 and 2.0
- OS Support: Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 2003 Server or 2008 Server
Pros
- Recovers data from encrypted databases but limited to Access 3.0Tables,
- Recovers the following Access data – Tables, Queries, relationship between tables, Forms, Reports, Macros
- The software recovers counter type fields and restores link to external tables.
- Recovers indexes and modules and provides a full install and uninstall support
- Provides a preview and recovery tool on corrupted and healthy Access database browser
Cons
- Doesn’t Support MS Access 2019
- Does Not Recover the following database objects:
- Formulae for calculated fields (only values)
- Attachment field type
- List type fields in case ‘multiple values allowed’ option is enabled
- Embedded macros and categories
- Does not restore referential integrity properties used to prevent data loss
- Requires printer driver to be installed for the corrupted reports recovery, else reports will not be recovered
#9. Perfect Data Solutions Access Database Repair
“MS Access Database Repair Software“
Access file recovery software from Perfect Data Solutions repairs corrupt MDB files, solves Access file issues, and preserves the database at user defined location. The software recovers the Table-details available in other languages.
- Repairs corrupt MDB files
- Repairs MS Access 2000 / 2002 / XP/ 2003
Pros
- Fast, secure and safe MDB file recovery through simple and well-guided steps
- Recovers Tables and table structures from corrupted database
- Recovers Access queries, primary keys and foreign keys
- Restores Table relationships
Cons
- Does not repair ACCDB database files.
- Does not support latest Access versions including 2019
- Unable to recover all objects of Access database
- Software is unable to recover data from encrypted files
#10. Sysinfo Tools MS Access Recovery Tool
“Repair (MDB & ACCDB) & Restores (OLE, MEMO, & BLOB) MS Access Database Files“
MS Access Recovery tool repairs and extracts the Access database from the corrupted files. The software performs recovery in dual modes – Standard and Advanced to fix the issues arising out of minor corruption and severely corrupted files. It is available for technicians and the administrators as console based version and GUI-based application and saves a log file after scanning.
- Repairs MDB and ACCDB files and restores OLE, MEMO and BLOB files
- Supports MS Access 2013 and earlier versions
- OS Support: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, 2003, XP and 2000
Pros
- Recovers Tables and Deleted Records
- Provides preview of recovered data for data-integrity check and assurance of successful recovery
- Maintains original file structure and saves data at specified location
- Solves issues arising sue to header corruption and data misalignment
- Recovers all objects from corrupted database
Cons
- Software does not support latest version of MS Access including 2019
- The trial version does not allow to save the repaired Access database.
- Does not recover Access data from password protected files
Conclusion
A comprehensive evaluation of the top 10 Access database repair software helped us reach a conclusion that almost all the software in the list claim to repair MDB and ACCDB files that consist of the database.
The trial version of the software performs all the key functions (database scan & repair) except saving the repaired database. So, the next step would be to activate the trial version of the software to restore the repaired Access database,
Before choosing the Access Database repair software, it’s important to see the utility in the context of the specific database repair requirement; assess the software functions that can fulfill the requirement. For example, a software may provide better functionality, but it may not support a specific Microsoft Access version, which may come up as a last moment surprise. So it’s also important to consider the software on the basis of how extensively it can repair the different versions of Microsoft Access.