Download and save them to a memorable folder on your computer (e.g., C:\Drivers\ ). Step 2: Install the First Version Normally
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Common\FilesPaths to prevent version conflicts. SQLServerCentral Verification To confirm the 64-bit provider is correctly registered: : Create a new text file, rename its extension to , and double-click it. Under the
This error is almost always caused by a between the provider and the calling application.
To resolve cross-architecture errors, you must obtain both versions of the driver installer from Microsoft. download microsoft.ace.oledb.12.0 provider for both 64-bit
This error typically appears when a 64-bit application (like a 64-bit version of Office, a C# application compiled for x64, or SQL Server) attempts to read an .accdb or .xlsx file but cannot find the necessary driver. Installing the wrong version of the driver, or having conflicting 32-bit/64-bit versions, is the root cause.
The Microsoft Access Connectivity Engine (ACE) OLEDB provider is a set of components that allows 64-bit applications to connect to, read, and write data to older Office formats (like .xls ) and modern formats ( .xlsx , .accdb ).
: Support for the 2016 Redistributable officially ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft now recommends the Microsoft 365 Access Runtime Download and save them to a memorable folder
Note: While 2010 is the standard for .12.0 , the 2016 driver often works for modern applications and provides better compatibility with newer Office files. Installation Steps (64-bit)
AccessDatabaseEngine.exe /quiet
(x64), as a 64-bit application cannot use a 32-bit provider. Microsoft Learn connection string Under the This error is almost always caused
To get the provider, you need to download the official or the 2016 version . Both include the Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0 provider. Go to the official Microsoft Download Center. Select your preferred language and click Download . You will see two files available for download: AccessDatabaseEngine.exe : This is the 32-bit version. AccessDatabaseEngine_X64.exe : This is the 64-bit version.
You can find the official installers for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions through the Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 Redistributable page. : Select AccessDatabaseEngine_X64.exe .
There is that installs both 32-bit and 64-bit drivers simultaneously on the same machine. "Both" refers to having the ability to download the correct installer for your specific architecture. To truly support both, you can run two installers using a passive approach (explained in Chapter 6).
If you need both versions on the same machine (e.g., for development and testing), the standard installers will block the second installation. However, there is a reliable workaround: .