SQL Server Excel Import - The 'Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0' provider is not registered on the local machine.

Alex Fletcher 61

I'm trying to do a simple Excel import into a local SQL Server instance installed on my machine (to do some analysis), I'm attempting to use the wizard through SSMS. This worked a few days ago and I imported a couple of thousand tabs into tables in SQL using the same method. Now when I try to import I get this error:

The 'Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0' provider is not registered on the local machine. (System.Data)

Looking at other similar questions I've installed the Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 Redistributable:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=13255

Also the Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016 Redistributable:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=54920

And finally the Microsoft 365 Access Runtime

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/download-and-install-microsoft-365-access-runtime-185c5a32-8ba9-491e-ac76-91cbe3ea09c9?ui=en-us&rs=en-us&ad=us

execute master.dbo.xp_enum_oledb_providers returns these rows:

Provider Name Parse Name Provider Description
Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0 {3BE786A0-0366-4F5C-9434-25CF162E475E} Microsoft Office 12.0 Access Database Engine OLE DB Provider
Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.16.0 {3BE786A2-0366-4F5C-9434-25CF162E475E} Microsoft Office 16.0 Access Database Engine OLE DB Provider

Yet still the same message.

What else can I try?

Janya Lee Erwin 246 Reputation points

2022-02-21T21:57:13.397+00:00

Essentially the SQL Import Wizard requires MDAC. Here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=13255 . Note that you need the plain 32 bit one AccessDatabaseEngine.exe, The x64 one is useless because the Wizard is still 32 bit.
Ayo Howells 10 Reputation points

2023-02-24T21:55:13.93+00:00

Thanks @Janya Lee Erwin I have been on this for over 24hrs. You are a life saver. Cheers
Luis Uvalle 0 Reputation points

2023-03-08T18:37:37.53+00:00

@Janya Lee Erwin, thanks a lot. It solved my problem. :)
Lesley Bargamento 0 Reputation points

2023-03-14T01:25:56.9866667+00:00

@Janya Lee Erwin super thanks! Such a great help!
Rich Brolly 0 Reputation points

2023-03-14T11:27:10.4633333+00:00

@Janya Lee Erwin THANK YOU!! A year+ later and this is still valuable.
Ismail Habib 0 Reputation points

2023-03-24T21:33:09.7333333+00:00

I spent a whole day trying to fix this, tried so many solutions, ended up messing up my entire setting and I was about to give up.

Wish I saw this earlier. You're such a hero my brother!
Castro, Eduardo (SPL-IPG) 0 Reputation points

2023-04-06T19:02:22.59+00:00

Thank you, after a few tries with the x64 version, I finally found this Q&A and it worked!
Subhrajit Ghosh 0 Reputation points

2023-04-06T20:53:39.2866667+00:00

Thank you.
Bipin Singh 0 Reputation points

2023-05-01T06:21:35.88+00:00

Thank to Janya Lee Erwin and community
Ashok kumar 0 Reputation points

2023-06-21T07:23:52.1666667+00:00

Thanks @Janya Lee Erwin , you saved lot of googling time for the fix.
Faith Ugwu 0 Reputation points

2023-07-01T14:57:07.3966667+00:00

Thank you @Janya Lee Erwin super helpful
Crystal XCLUSIVE 5 Reputation points

2023-07-06T21:41:35.7266667+00:00

This worked perfectly, I used 48hours to search for an answer. wish i found this earlier
Amanda Oudemans 0 Reputation points

2023-07-07T15:12:20.5366667+00:00

@Janya Lee Erwin Thank you so much from me as well! This just saved me after several hours of doing all the original fixes in the OP.
Azaria Anderson 0 Reputation points

2023-07-08T19:21:38.18+00:00

@Janya Lee Erwin Thank you so much!
Marieri Okeme 0 Reputation points

2023-08-06T15:47:13.79+00:00

Many thanks. Solved my problem immediately!
Temitope Olu-Alabi 0 Reputation points

2023-09-06T23:27:43.6966667+00:00

@Janya Lee Erwin Thank you so much. It worked
Princess Adebambo 0 Reputation points

2023-10-01T03:24:14.7333333+00:00

Thank you @Janya Lee Erwin This worked for me as well. After getting discouraged to proceed with my project for over 2 weeks.

From now on, I am approaching errors with a different mindset.

Bless you!!
Ranjan Nishantha 0 Reputation points

2023-10-04T06:58:22.4066667+00:00

@Janya Lee Erwin THANK YOU!
Sadanand Walke 0 Reputation points

2023-11-12T03:42:46.7433333+00:00

@Janya Lee Erwin Thank you so much. I want to do my first portfolio project & you saved from from this pain!!!
بهاء محمد فتحي داغر 0 Reputation points

2023-12-15T22:59:21.1733333+00:00

THANKS A LOT
KH 0 Reputation points

2024-02-07T15:49:22.4233333+00:00

Awesome! I had the 64 Bit version installed and was struggling to get this fixed. Once I uninstalled the 64-bit version and install the 32-bit version, it worked perfectly. Thank you.
Bill Richardson 0 Reputation points

2024-06-25T16:21:17.38+00:00

I tried using the link provided but received an error "We're sorry, this download is no longer available.". Any ideas? Thanks.
Janya Lee Erwin 246 Reputation points

2024-07-19T18:06:09.3933333+00:00

An alternate way around is to save the Excel File as Excel 97-2003 Workbook (.xls)* format and import that xls file instead.

6 answers

Shubh Garg 20 Reputation points

2023-02-23T07:35:01.5533333+00:00

After installing the Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 Redistributable. Make sure you do not use the Latest SSMS version. I was using SSMS 2019 and the error was still there. But as soon as I used SSMS 2012, I got no errors.
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SQL Server Excel Import - The 'Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0' provider is not registered on the local machine.

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