What's new in Access for Microsoft 365

As a Microsoft 365 subscriber, you regularly get new and improved Microsoft 365 features. Take a look below to see what's available to you today.

Note: If you are an IT professional managing the Microsoft 365 update process, check out the channel releases page to learn which updates are provided in each channel.

Latest updates for Access

Right click menu options displayed from a query object in an Access database with the option SQL View selected

Open queries in SQL View from the Navigation Pane

Based on your feedback, we’ve added a new option to the right-click menu for query objects displayed in the Navigation Pane. You can now select SQL View here to go directly into SQL View for your selected query.

No need for the extra step to first open the query in Datasheet View or Design View.

Microsoft 365 for Access logo next to text saying 4 GB Address Aware

Large Address Aware in Access

The 32-bit version of Access for Microsoft 365 has been updated to be Large Address Aware (LAA).

This increases the maximum address space available to Access from 2 GB to 4 GB when it is running on a 64-bit version of Windows. This is especially helpful when running complex Access applications.

Warning message in Access about opening a linked table in Design view. A checkbox labeled Don't show this message again is being selected.

Don't show the warning for opening linked tables in Design View

Based on your feedback, we’ve added a new option to the warning message that appears when you try to open a linked table in Design View. You can now select Don't show this message again if you don't want Access to prompt you with this message every time you try to open a linked table in Design View.

You can turn the message confirmations back on by selecting the Linked/ReadOnly tables option in the Confirm section of File > Options > Client Settings.

Access for Microsoft 365 logo next to text saying more open tables and available connections

Open more tables and connections

Based on your feedback, we've increased the maximum number of open tables from 2,048 to 4,096. We've also increased the maximum number of available connections from 256 to 512.

See Access specifications.

Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window with Digital Signature option selected on a drop-down menu.

Code sign your Microsoft Access database and VBA code

We've enabled the Tools/Digital Signature command within the VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) IDE (Integrated Development Environment) for current Microsoft Access database formats. Signing a database allows VBA code in the database to be run even if Trust Center settings specify that only digitally signed code should be enabled.

See Show trust by adding a digital signature.

Edge Browser Control button being clicked in the Form Design ribbon tab in Microsoft Access

Try the new Edge Browser Control

Use the new Edge Browser Control to specify a URL and show web pages on a form.

See Use the Edge browser control on a form.

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New Northwind Starter and Developer Edition templates

These two new templates are designed to teach anyone the fundamentals of how to use Access as a database. Using a sales tracking system, it introduces many Access capabilities like forms, a main dashboard, and reports with charts. The Developer Edition expands on the Starter Edition and shows advanced techniques on how to build rich solutions using Access.

See Northwind 2.0 Starter Edition and

Northwind 2.0 Developer Edition.

An image displaying the Access, PowerApps, and Dataverse logos

Access Dataverse Connector with Power Platform

Unlock new capabilities organizations need and want like mobile solutions and Microsoft Teams integration. Keep the value and ease of use of Access together with the value of cloud-based storage.

See Get started: Migrate Access data to Dataverse.

Security risk message displayed below the ribbon in an Access database with a Learn More button

Macros in Access databases from the internet disabled

VBA macros are a common way for malicious actors to gain access to deploy malware and ransomware. Therefore, to help improve security in Office, we’re changing the default behavior of Office applications to block macros in files from the internet.

See Macros from the internet are blocked by default in Office for more information.

Linked Table Manager dialog box

Refresh, relink, or remove linked tables

The updated Linked Table Manager is a central location for viewing and managing all data sources and linked tables in an Access database. From time-to-time you may need to refresh, relink, find, edit, or delete linked tables. This is because of changes to the data source location, table name, or table schema.

See Manage linked tables.

Shows Access datatype

The Date/Time Extended data type has better precision

We’ve implemented the DateTime2 data type into Access to enhance syntax compatibility with SQL to increase accuracy and level of detail in records that include dates and times. The DateTime2 data type includes a larger date range (0001-01-01 through 9999-12-31) with higher-specified time precision (nanoseconds, rather than seconds).

See Using the Date/Time Extended data type.

Find and Replace dialog box

Improvements to SQL View

Use the Find and Replace dialog box in SQL View to search for and replace text in an SQL statement, which is especially useful for long statements.

See Improvements to Query Designer, SQL View, Relationships window.

The Access Relationships window

Improvements to the Relationships Window

Quickly adjust the table size to reveal additional fields and relationships, select a subset of tables and relationships, and scroll horizontally and vertically by using the mouse scroll wheel.

See What is the Relationships window? for more information.

Open and Design View right-click menu commands

Improvements to the Query Designer

We’ve added new time-saving options for table objects. In Query Design View, right-click to select Open, Design View or Size to Fit.

See Improvements to Query Designer, SQL View, Relationships window.

Color picker in Office apps. Under the RGB fields there is a new field to enter Hex color value.

Pick the perfect color

Based on your feedback, we’ve added a new input field in the Colors dialog for Hex color values. No need to spend time converting Hex color values into RGB values.

For any property where you can define a color in Access, you can now enter a Hex color value in the Hex box, for example, #0F4C81 or 444.

Access screen with Add Tables Pane open

Add tables with fewer clicks

Use the Add Tables task pane, which stays open while you work, to add tables to relationships and queries.

See The Add Tables task pane.

Want new features first?

Become a Microsoft 365 Insider and you'll be first in line to see new features and tell us what you think.

Join Microsoft 365 Insiders today

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More about releases

When do I get new features? New Microsoft 365 features are sometimes rolled out over a period of time to all subscribers.

See how features are rolled out

Complete list of all updates Get information about all the channel releases for Microsoft 365 client applications.

Latest releases

New for non-subscribers Not a Microsoft 365 subscriber but using Access 2021, Access 2019, or Access 2016? Find out what's available in your version.

What's new in Access 2021? What's new in Access 2019? What's new in Office 2016?

Latest updates for Access

Microsoft 365 Insiders, you now have a web site dedicated to you. Go to Release Notes for Microsoft 365 Insiders page to find out all the latest fixes and features that are available to you today.

Even more features, even faster

Enroll in Microsoft 365 Insiders program and get access to see the latest features even earlier.

Join Microsoft 365 Insiders today

May 2019

See what's new in the May update, Version 1905 (Build 11629.20196).

Switch seamlessly

The new account manager shows all of your Microsoft 365 work and personal accounts in one place. Switching between them has never been easier.

See Easily switch between accounts.

Conceptual screenshot of account switching feature

March 2019

See what's new in the March update, Version 1903 (Build 11425.20202).

Keep tabs on your database objects

Clearly see the active tab, easily drag tabs to rearrange them, and close database objects with just one click.

A data table with tabs that can be rearranged

January 2019

Here's what's new in the January feature update, Version 1901 (11231.20130).

Zoom for more room

Make the font bigger or smaller. Press Shift + F2 to zoom.

Zoom dialog box with text that says Shift + F2 to Zoom

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