Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=C:\MyDatabase.accdb;Persist Security Info=False;
| Your Application Bitness | Required Provider | Download File | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 32-bit (x86) | 32-bit ACE 12.0 | AccessDatabaseEngine.exe | | 64-bit (x64) | 64-bit ACE 12.0 | AccessDatabaseEngine_X64.exe | | Any (using 'Any CPU') | Match OS bitness | Choose based on OS |
If you absolutely must have both architectures on a production server, run the 64-bit installer first with /quiet , then the 32-bit installer with /passive . Test thoroughly with your ETL processes. download microsoft.ace.oledb.12.0 provider for both 64-bit
: If you encounter errors after installing both, you may need to delete the registry value located at
This error occurs when 64-bit applications (like SQL Server, 64-bit Office, or custom 64-bit scripts) try to connect to older Access or Excel files (.mdb, .accdb, .xls, .xlsx) but cannot find the necessary connectivity components. Provider=Microsoft
In recent years, Microsoft has officially removed the direct download links for the ACE OLEDB 12.0 provider. You will no longer find a standalone 12.0 installer on Microsoft’s official website. However, this does not mean you cannot use the Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0 provider—it simply means you have to install it via a newer redistributable package.
If you use Microsoft 365 (Click-to-Run), forcing the installation can sometimes break Excel's native connection strings. If you encounter issues after a forced install, check the registry: Press Win + R , type regedit , and hit Enter. In recent years, Microsoft has officially removed the
This issue arises because your application is trying to use the Access Database Engine to read .xlsx or .accdb files but cannot find the necessary driver. If your application is running as a 64-bit process, you install the 64-bit version of this provider.
The /passive argument shows progress without requiring user interaction, while /quiet suppresses all UI prompts.
If you are a developer, data analyst, or IT professional working with Excel files, Access databases, or data integration tools on a 64-bit Windows system, you have likely encountered the dreaded "Provider Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0 is not registered" error.