Compact and Repair Microsoft Access Databases on Your ScheduleMicrosoft Access Database Compact and Repair to Minimize Corruption and Avoid Bloat (by Access Version)

Microsoft Access/Jet Databases Need to be Periodically Compacted

File server databases like Access/JET MDB and ACCDB files need to be periodically compacted and repaired for optimal performance and to minimize database corruption. Compacting also eliminates database bloat that can occur as data is added and deleted in the database. Here's a Microsoft Knowledgebase article that discusses some of the issues.

Microsoft Access databases can be manually compacted from the Access menu. Over the last few versions of Access, the location of this command has moved around. Here's a summary across versions of compacting the currently opened database or another database.

Compact and Repair Database by Access Version

Microsoft Access 365, 2021 and 2019If you have a database open, the Compact and Repair Database command will compact it. If a database is not open, it will prompt you to select a database on disk and the name of the compacted database. You can select the option from the Database Tools ribbon:

Compact Database in Microsoft Access 365, 2021, and 2019

It is also available on the File Menu. Choose Info, then select the Compact & Repair Database button on the right:

Compact Database in Microsoft Access 365, 2021, and 2019

Microsoft Access 2016 and 2013 The feature is similar in Access 2016 and 2013 with different icons:

Compact Database in Microsoft Access 2016 and 2013

It is also available on the File Menu. Choose Info, then select the Compact & Repair Database button on the right:

Compact Database in Microsoft Access 2016 and 2013

Microsoft Access 2010Similarly, the Compact and Repair Database option is on the Database Tools ribbon:

Microsoft Access Database Compact in Access 2010

It is also available on the File Menu, under Info. Select the Compact & Repair Database button on the right:

Microsoft Access Database Compact in Access 2010

Microsoft Access 2007Microsoft Access 2007 does not have a Compact option from the Database Tools ribbon. To compact in Access 2007, from the Office button, select Manage and choose Compact and Repair Database:

Microsoft Access Database Compact in Access 2007

Microsoft Access 2003Pre-ribbon, it was simply on the menu under: Tools, Database Utilities, Compact and Repair Database

Microsoft Access Database Compact in Access 2003 and earlier

FMS Development Team Blog Blog on this topic: Microsoft Access Database Compact and Repair to Minimize Corruption and Avoid Bloat


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