TRANSITIONING TO MICROSOFT ACCESS RUNTIME FOR AUTOCAD ELECTRICAL 2026

Explore more

Due to the extended support of Microsoft Access Database Engine (ADE) 2016 ending on the 14^th October 2025, AutoCAD Electrical now will require use of Microsoft Access Runtime as the database engine for managing project and catalogue data.

In this blog post, we’ll explore:

• Why this change matters
• How to install Microsoft Access Runtime
• Compatibility with older versions of AutoCAD Electrical

 

Why the Switch from Access Database Engine 2016?

Microsoft officially ended support for the Access Database Engine 2016 as part of its broader lifecycle changes tied to Office 2016 products. Continuing to rely on ADE 2016 introduces security risks and potential incompatibility with modern operating systems and applications.

To ensure continued functionality and security in AutoCAD Electrical 2026, Autodesk has moved toward using Microsoft Access Runtime, which offers a more sustainable and supported alternative for database interaction.

 

What Is Microsoft Access Runtime?

Microsoft Access Runtime is a free, redistributable version of Microsoft Access that allows users to run Access applications without needing the full version of Access installed. It includes the database engine necessary to interact with .mdb files, which are commonly used in AutoCAD Electrical for:

• Catalogue data
• Footprint lookups
• Manufacturer part libraries

This makes it a perfect drop-in replacement for ADE 2016.

 

Manual Installation Required

Unlike ADE 2016, Microsoft Access Runtime is not bundled with the AutoCAD Electrical installer. Users must manually download and install it. Here’s how:

1. Visit the Microsoft Access Runtime download page:
• Access 2016 Runtime
• Access 365 Runtime
2. Install the Runtime by running the downloaded installer and following the prompts.
3. Restart your machine (recommended) to ensure system integration.

Important Note: Do not install both 32-bit and 64-bit runtimes on the same system as they will conflict.

 

Backwards Compatibility

Microsoft Access Runtime is highly backwards compatible with previous AutoCAD Electrical releases. It supports opening and editing .mdb files created by:

• AutoCAD Electrical 2021 and later
• Catalogue databases and symbol libraries

As long as file formats remain consistent (i.e., no schema changes in newer versions), Access Runtime can interact with existing data without issue.

 

Potential Compatibility Issues

• If you're using a custom database or third-party add-ons that depend on ADE 2016 APIs, you may need to test or reconfigure those integrations.
• Mixed Office installations (e.g. Office 2019 32-bit with 64-bit Access Runtime) may cause registry or COM conflicts.

Summary

Feature	Microsoft Access Runtime	Access Database Engine 2016
Supported by Microsoft	Yes (current versions)	No (EOL – 10/2025)
Required for AutoCAD Electrical 2026	Yes	Deprecated
Manual Installation	Required	Usually pre-installed
Backwards Compatible	Yes (.mdb)	Yes (when supported)
Security Updates	Ongoing	Ended

 

Recommendations

• Install Microsoft Access Runtime before launching AutoCAD Electrical 2026 to avoid missing database engine errors.
• Standardise OS (32-bit vs 64-bit) across AutoCAD Electrical, Runtime, and Office to minimize conflicts.
• Test existing databases and symbols after migration to confirm compatibility.

If you would like further information on the benefits of using AutoCAD Electrical for your electrical design, feel free to contact us at Symetri to arrange a consultation with one of our electrical specialists. We offer scheduled AutoCAD Electrical essentials training, as well as be-spoke training tailored to your requirements to help you work smarter for a better future.