Solved- Microsoft Access AutoCorrect Not Working Issue

AutoCorrect is a tremendous feature in Microsoft Access that helps to automatically fix certain types of errors or inconsistencies in the database objects such as tables, forms, queries, and reports. When you enable the Autocorrect feature in MS Access, it can correct problems like field names, data types, & other operational elements to maintain the database integrity. But sometimes, the Access AutoCorrect not working even when this feature is enabled.

In this post, I will mention some of the workable solutions to potentially solve the Access AutoCorrect feature not working issue.

But before proceeding to address this problem, let’s know something about the AutoCorrect feature in detail.

What Is AutoCorrect Feature In Access?

Access offers two kinds of AutoCorrect options:

1. AutoCorrect
2. Name AutoCorrect

1. AutoCorrect:

The AutoCorrect feature of Access is very useful for applying some specific spelling or formatting for certain kinds of phrases that you use very often.

MS Access gives close attention to how you type correction which ultimately makes your future typing easier.

The main purpose of this AutoCorrect feature is to change the misspelled words with the appropriate ones. Like the same, you can also define some shortcodes to automatically replace it with long phrases or words.

2. Name AutoCorrect:

Multiple users frequently work in the Access database which has a design in it. Meanwhile, database objects may be stopped working if any changes are made to the database objects.

This situation is mostly rendered when the object name is changed but those changes are not well accompanied by the original database object.

• This Access name AutoCorrect option tracks name changes and corrects the name of objects like forms, reports, tables, queries, fields or controls, etc.
• It helps to find when the database object name-changing process hampers the performance of other database objects.
• Automatically fixes the issue.
• Keep a record of all the corrections it does.

Note: MS Access Name AutoCorrect works great in synchronizing the names of database objects.

Other database design problems like the deletion of any objects can’t be handled by this name AutoCorrect feature.

Why Is My AutoCorrect Not Working Problem in Access?

Here are the reasons that can lead to Access AutoCorrect not working situation.

1. AutoCorrect Disabled- If the AutoCorrect feature is disabled in the MS Access settings then this feature may not work.
2. Corrupted Database- If your Microsoft Access database file is corrupted, then it can result in various issues, including AutoCorrect not working.
3. Disabled Specific Table or Name AutoCorrect option– It is possible that the specific table in the database is turned off or the name AutoCorrect option is disabled.
4. Incomplete Access Installation- Incomplete installations or running an outdated Access program can cause unexpected problems including the AutoCorrect feature does not work.
5. Lack of Permissions- Due to lack of necessary permissions to modify AutoCorrect settings.

Also Read: Refresh Access Database Automatically

How to Fix MS Access AutoCorrect Not Working Issue?

Method 1- Check & Enable AutoCorrect Feature

The very first solution that you can try to deal with this problem is to check if the AutoCorrect option is enabled or not. If not, then do it by following the below steps:

• Go to the File tab from your Access menu bar. After that from the File drop-down menu choose the Options.

• In the opened window of Access Options, tap to the Proofing option present on the left sidebar.
• From the Proofing option window make a tap on the button of AutoCorrect Options.

• Now from the opened window of AutoCorrect, you have to check the “show AutoCorrect Options buttons”. After that tap to the OK button.

Method 2- Disable Or Enable Name AutoCorrect options

The second option is to disable or enable name AutoCorrect options in the current access database.

1. From the MS Access ribbon, tap to the File and then to Options. This will open the dialog box of Access options.

2. Tap to the current database option present on the left pane of Access Options

3. Within the options of Name AutoCorrect, select any of the following three options.

Name AutoCorrect contains three options: Track name AutoCorrect info, Perform name AutoCorrect, and Log name AutoCorrect changes.

Let’s know about each of these options in brief.

• Track name AutoCorrect info:

If you select this option, Access keeps tracking of the database object name modifications occurring in your Current database. All the tracked information is saved in the name maps. When this Track name AutoCorrect info option is turned ON Access creates an individual name map for all the existing objects of the database.

As long as this option is enabled, you will always get the updated name map. This name map helps greatly to resolve errors accused by the renaming of objects. With this, you can take out information about the object dependencies of any database.

You can’t access the name map directly. Enabling this Track name AutoCorrect info option doesn’t correct previous mistakes of your database object name. This will create a name map that will help in your future correction.

• Perform name AutoCorrect:

Choosing this option will automatically fix object name changes whenever they happen. To use this option, it’s important that your Track name AutoCorrect info option is previously enabled.

As the Perform name AutoCorrect, it makes use of name maps created by the Track name AutoCorrect info option.

• Log name AutoCorrect changes:

MS Access keeps a log of all the corrections done by name AutoCorrect. Every individual correction seems like a record within this Name AutoCorrect Log table.

To use this option also, it’s important that your Track name AutoCorrect info option is previously kept enabled.

Method 3- Check for Permission to Modify AutoCorrect Settings

In MS Access, you can make changes in the AutoCorrect settings if you have the necessary permissions. But, if you don’t have the necessary permissions then you can face AutoCorrect not working problem. However, you may need to check & ensure that you’ve the required permissions to access the file and to do modifications.

Method 4- Restart The Interrupted Name Mapping Process

Your Access AutoCorrect may not be working because of an interruption in the name-mapping process.

 So you need to restart the process of updating the name maps.  Follow the steps to perform this:

• Tap to the File tab from the access application menu bar. Now from the File menu drop-down choose Options.

• This will open the Access Options dialog box.
• Tap to the Current Database option from the left pane of Access Options
• Uncheck the checkbox of Track name AutoCorrect info option and tap to the OK button.

• Access asks you to close all the opened database objects to let the changes happen.
• Close your Access database completely and again reopen it.
• Now perform the step 1 to 3 and once you reach the current database option window, check the Track name AutoCorrect info option. At last tap to the OK option.

For manually updating the name map of any particular object just open the object in the design view and save your Access database object.

Method 5- Repair Corrupt Database

As mentioned in the causes section, corruption in the Access database can also lead to AutoCorrect option not working. However, using a built-in Access “Compact and Repair” tool, you can repair your corrupt Access database file.

Follow the below steps:

• Open MS Access.
• Select File >> Close and then Database Tools.
• After that, click on Compact and Repair Database.

• In the “Database to Compact from” dialog box, you have to choose the corrupted database to repair.
• Click Compact.

If the Compact & Repair tool fails, it is likely that your database file is severely corrupted. In such a case, you should opt for advanced Access Repair Software. This program can fix severe database corruption with less effort.

* By clicking the Download button above and installing Stellar Repair for Access (14.8 MB), I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the End User License Agreement and Privacy Policy of this site.

Wrap Up

After reading the complete post, you must have got enough idea on how to fix the MS Access Autocorrect not working problem. So try all the solutions I have listed above and do share your experiences with us on our Facebook or Twitter accounts.

Still having issues? Fix them with this Access repair tool:

This software repairs & restores all ACCDB/MDB objects including tables, reports, queries, records, forms, and indexes along with modules, macros, and other stuffs effectively.

1. Download Stellar Repair for Access rated Great on Cnet (download starts on this page).
2. Click Browse and Search option to locate corrupt Access database.
3. Click Repair button to repair & preview the database objects.

Pearson Willey

Pearson Willey is a website content writer and long-form content planner. Besides this, he is also an avid reader. Thus he knows very well how to write an engaging content for readers. Writing is like a growing edge for him. He loves exploring his knowledge on MS Access & sharing tech blogs.