Stuck with your locked Access database? Want to Unlock Access Database but won’t getting any perfect solution to do this? No need to worry as this tutorial is written with the main perspective of fixing locked Access Database issue.
So learn how to unlock Access Database password safely without any data loss.
Free MS Access Database Repair Tool
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Practical Scenarios:
I have an Access database that was previously locked. Now I have to make changes to it but cannot figure out how to unlock it. The icon has a little lock on the upper right hand corner, and the menu control options are gone on the menu when I open it. How do I regain access into it?
source: https://www.pcreview.co.uk/threads/how-do-i-unlock-an-access-database.1898459/
I have an Access database that is on a network drive that multiple users can access. The database corrupted this morning and I am in the process of trying to fix it. The problem I am having is when I attempt to rename the database it says it is currently in use by someone. There is no .ldb file associated with this file so at this point and am dead in the water because I can’t rename it, compact it or anything.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks
source: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/6111043/ms-access-database-locked-by-unknown-user
What’s Access Database Locking?
Password defending an Access database permits you to defend sensitive data from prying eyes. At times, you might encrypt Access by means of a password and then misplace or overlook a password and consequently don’t have access to the MS Access database file. But do not panic, because now you can securely and efficiently recover Access mdb, accdb file password that’s forgotten or lost on Windows 8/7/Vista/XP by way of four influential assault types: Brute-force with Mask Attack, Brute-Force Attack, Smart Attack, and Dictionary Attack. The program chains every version of MS Access counting Access 95/97/2000/XP/2003/2007/2010.
Accdb Vs. Laccdb
All the versions of MS Access bring into the usage of locking files that passes up the users from operating a similar record at a similar point of time. MS Access 2013 databases encompass a file extension of ACCDB whenever you crack Access Database password.
Since the 2007 MS Office version, ACCDB is the default Access file extension. After locking any file, it shares a similar name and location as the primary database file, but their extension becomes LACCDB. Earlier than the 2007 version, such extensions were MDB and LDB. The LACCDB file continues to be open until the final user ends the database.
In uncommon situations, this locked accdb file avoids eliminating itself and should be eradicated using manual methods. If you are well aware of the assigned name of the database, but you are not sure that where the database is amassed within the system, then you are facilitated with a couple of alternatives: either try executing all files searching technique along with the LACCDB extension or else you can try to contact your network manager and provide them every required detail.
What’s The Need Of Locking The Access Database?
MS Office Access application facilitates the user to set up a password on their Access database file so that other people are not in a state to open or even modify the document.
But the sad part arises when you forget the password in Access Database then its quite troublesome to recover Access database password. As the office password system is very much complex and common Access password recovery fails to work.
Maintaining the security and privacy of your data is the first priority for every Access database user after seeing the increasing hack attempts of everyday routine. But using a long and complex password has more chance to forget. If you are in the same situation and have forgotten your MS Access Database Password then be calm and have a complete look at this tutorial.
As it contains complete information regarding MS Access password and how to crack MS Access password in no time.
What Locking File Microsoft Access Database Uses?
When you create an Access database it generates a copy of the same with the same name but with a locking file extension of either an LDB (Microsoft Access 2003 or earlier) or LACCDB (Microsoft Access 2007 or later).
The file should automatically generate and extinguish itself when opening and closing your Access database. The outcome of this is you don’t need to do anything with it unless you want to.
Where And How Access Database Stores The Password?
It’s pretty obvious that you have lost or forgotten your MS Access password and looking for some perfect solution to Access password recovery. Before trying to recover Access Database password, it’s important to learn how Access stores its password.
Technically, MS Access database password stores in the following regular pattern.
1). Jet 3 –
In this mode, the MS Access database password gets saved in the header of the MDB file and the format remains as plain text.
2) Jet 4 –
In this, the password is encrypted with a basic XOR pattern algorithm depending on data and times of film production. Further, it saves data in the MDB file header.
3) Jet 3 & 4 –
The password is further encrypted with an XOR pattern affecting the MDB file.
4) ACCBD Files –
The password is not encrypted as plain text in the header file at all. Instead, the new # value is allocated to authenticate the user’s password validation. Hash produced by the tool is a combination of two RC4 and SHA-1 algorithms.
In order to encrypt your Access database if you have chosen the pattern then it’s quite difficult to crack. This especially applies with the ACCDB files but MDB files are still possible to be recovered.
Manual Ways To Unlock MS Access .mdb & .accdb File:
Here are the following fixes on how to unlock Access database password:
Method 1# Using Decompile Option
You can try copying the database into a different location. The feature won’t be locked for any reason. Then you can try working the way you want to until you resolve the lock issue that’s occurring with the original file.
And if you are facing this error because of the VB code corruption of the file, try opening the database with the help of the “/decompile” option. To do this follow the steps mentioned beneath:
Start Run:
“C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\msaccess.exe” “C:\example.mdb” /decompile
If there is no .ldb file related to the MDB, it will be complicated to find out the exact user that’s locking your database. If you have a very limited number of users, you should start again their systems. It would be a primitive technique but is quickest to try rather than accdb password recovery through additional procedures.
Method 2# Open Password Protected Access Database With VBA Code
Well, this method of opening a password protected Access database with VBA code only applicable for the lower Access Database version i.e 2000-2007. If you are an Access 2010-2013 user then try other fixes to Unlock Access Database.
Follow the below steps to unlock password-protected Access database using VBA code:
Step 1: Make a fresh database without applying for any password protection.
Step 2: Now open your newly created Access database file and press the button “Alt + F11” from your keyboard. This will open the
Microsoft Visual Basic for Application.
Step 3: From the menu bar, tap the “Insert” option, and after then choose the “Module” tab.
Step 4: Just copy down the following VBA code, mentioned below. After then paste it on the module section.
Sub OpenDB()
Dim db As Database
Dim ws As WorkSpace
Dim rst As Recordset
Set ws = DBEngine.WorkSpaces(0)
Set db = ws.OpenDatabase _ (“C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Samples\Northwind.mdb”, _ False, False, “MS Access;PWD=northwind”)
Set rst = db.OpenRecordset(“Customers”, dbOpenDynaset)
If rst.RecordCount > 0 Then
rst.MoveLast
MsgBox rst!CustomerID
End If
rst.Close
db.Close
End Sub
Now change the location of this new database file to the same location of your locked Access database.
Step 5: Tap the Run Macro button, or else press the F5 button from your keyboard. This will execute the application.
After a while, you will see that your locked mdb/accdb file will get unlocked without any password.
Method 3# Remove Password From Your MS Access Database
Another very simple way to unlock Access database without any much effort is by removing the password. Here are the following steps to perform this:
Step 1: At first you need to open your Access accdb file with a password. After then go to the File tab and then on the Open option.
If you directly click on the Decrypt Database option, then you will encounter with the following message box.
Step 2:
After then choose the accdb file that you are willing to decrypt. Then tap to the drop-down list present within the Open option and from this choose the “Open Exclusive” option.
If required, just enter the password in the opened text box again.
Step 3: Hit on the File option. After then on the Decrypt Database option.
Step 4: In the opened Unset Database Password dialog box, you need to enter the password, and tap to the OK option.
Now you will see that you don’t need to enter any password while opening your Access database.
Automatic Solution For ACCDB Password Recovery:
The second thing that you can do for the Access password recovery is using the Access Database Repair And Recovery Tool. This is probably the best alternative option to unlock Access database password.
Disengage MDB Files by means of Access Repair and Recovery Tool. It’s the best tool to retrieves lost data from encrypted mdb/accdb file and makes easy recovery from corrupted MS Access 95/97/2000/2002/2003/2020/2013/2019 database. It works to retrieves password-protected forms and modules.
* 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.
Key Features Of MS Access Tool:
- Recover exact password of MDB & ACCDB file to open Access document
- Supports recovering Multilingual or complex Access Database passwords
- Allows to Open MS Access file document after password recovery
- With this tool user can remove or recover password for MDB/accdb file forms and modules
- Supports MS Access 2013 & below versions to unlock MDB/ACCDB password
- Supports Windows 10 & below versions to reset MS Access database password.
Steps To Unlock MS Access Database
Wrap Up:
Now you must have got complete knowledge on how to crack Access database password smartly. But if in case, the manual solution fails to work then undoubtedly approach the Access Database software. As it is the best-suited option to unlock your locked Access database without getting stuck in any data loss situation.
Do try all the fixes and share your experiences with us whether you have succeeded to recover Access database password or not.
This software repairs & restores all ACCDB/MDB objects including tables, reports, queries, records, forms, and indexes along with modules, macros, and other stuffs effectively.
Still having issues? Fix them with this Access repair tool:
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.