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Save is no longer allowed on the database I was working on

Astrid Hardtke 0 Reputation points
2026-02-02T23:28:41.1966667+00:00

I was working on a database adding data. My database is saved on dropbox, I was working on desktop. Site is allowed on trust center. I´m the only user. My DB closed unexpectedly. Since then ¨Save¨ is no longer allowed. When I try to compress, it says that it is in use somwhere else. Or read only status. I dont know how to make it work again

Microsoft 365 and Office | Access | For home | Windows
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  1. George Hepworth 22,765 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-02-03T00:27:49.53+00:00

    It's dangerous to store working copies of Access accdbs in OneDrive or DropBox. These locations don't work the way Access wants to work. You can get away with it for a while, as you did before this incident.

    That's in addition to the problem you now confront, though.

    When Access closed unexpectedly, it appears to have left behind the locking file, the one with the same name as your database, but with the .laccdb extension. The .laccdb file controls users' ability to work with a shared accdb. Look for, and delete, the .laccdb file for this one. Only that file, of course.

    Then, I would urge you to reconsider working with an accdb on OneDrive or Dropbox, etc., at all. The problem there is that the ability share the accdb with others is blocked when you store those files in such locations. And that runs counter to what Access is designed for. If you truly never share the accdb, I suppose you can continue to get away with it, but as a matter of principle, I think it's not a wise choice.

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  2. Q&A Assist
    2026-02-02T23:28:53.3333333+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    It sounds like you are encountering issues with your Microsoft Access database, particularly with saving changes after an unexpected closure. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem:

    1. Check for Exclusive Access: Since you mentioned that you are the only user, ensure that no other instances of Access are open that might be using the database. If another instance is open, it can prevent you from saving changes. You may receive a message indicating that you do not have exclusive access to the database.
    2. Close Other Applications: Make sure that no other applications or processes are accessing the database file. Sometimes, background processes can lock the file.
    3. Check Read-Only Status: Right-click on the database file in Dropbox and check its properties. Ensure that the file is not set to read-only. If it is, uncheck the read-only attribute.
    4. Copy to Local Drive: If the database is stored on Dropbox, try copying it to your local drive and opening it from there. This can help eliminate any issues related to network access or file locking by Dropbox.
    5. Repair the Database: If you continue to have issues, you might need to repair the database. Open Access, go to the "Database Tools" tab, and select "Compact and Repair Database". This can help resolve corruption issues that may have arisen from the unexpected closure.

    If these steps do not resolve your issue, you may need to look into more advanced troubleshooting or consider restoring from a backup if available.

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