AutoCAD electrical 2023 error message with access database engine 2016

Hi Chief Schee,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.

Since reinstalling the 64-bit Access Database Engine 2016 did not resolve the issue, the root cause is most likely one of the following:

Microsoft Office/365 bit-version mismatch or recent update conflict

AutoCAD Electrical 2023 requires the 64-bit version of the Access Database Engine. However, if a 32-bit version of Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365 is installed on the same machine, the two versions conflict and the 64-bit engine will not be recognized correctly even after reinstallation.

Additionally, recent Microsoft 365 updates (in particular versions around 2601, released in late January 2026) are known to break the database engine integration in AutoCAD Electrical.

Recommended troubleshooting steps:

1. Check your Office/Microsoft 365 bitness: Open any Office app > File > Account > About [app name] > confirm whether it says 32-bit or 64-bit.
2. If Microsoft Office is installed (any version or Microsoft 365):
   • Uninstall any standalone Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016 from Control Panel
   • Perform an Online Repair of Microsoft Office
   • Install the latest updates for AutoCAD Electrical 2023
3. If Microsoft Office is NOT installed:

• Uninstall any existing Access Database Engine 2016
  • Download and install the 64-bit Microsoft 365 Access Runtime (the official successor to Access Database Engine 2016, whose support ended October 14, 2025)

For full details on all known error scenarios, please refer to the official Autodesk article: Launch Issues in AutoCAD Electrical
Note: This information is provided as a convenience to you. These sites are not controlled by Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot make any representations regarding the quality, safety, or suitability of any software or information found there. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks before using any suggestions from the above link.

Could you also share the exact error message you are seeing? The specific wording will help identify which scenario applies to your environment so we can provide more targeted guidance.

I hope this helps.

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If you are encountering an error message in AutoCAD Electrical 2023 related to the Access Database Engine 2016, even after reinstalling the 64-bit version, it may be due to a mismatch in the Access Database Engine version or issues with the installation. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Verify Installation: Ensure that the 64-bit version of the Access Database Engine is correctly installed. You can check this by going to the ODBC Data Source Administrator (64-bit) and looking for the "Microsoft Access Driver" under the Drivers tab.
2. Registry Check: Sometimes, the registry may still point to an incorrect version of the ACEOLEDB.DLL. You can check the registry paths mentioned in the context to ensure they are correct and do not point to an outdated version.
3. Coexistence of Drivers: If you have both 32-bit and 64-bit applications, consider uninstalling all versions of the Access drivers and reinstalling them to ensure they coexist properly. Follow the steps mentioned in the workaround to allow both drivers to function together.
4. Run in 32-bit Mode: If you are using a 32-bit version of AutoCAD, ensure that you are also using the 32-bit version of the Access Database Engine. If you are running a 64-bit version of AutoCAD, make sure the 64-bit driver is installed and used.
5. Error Messages: Pay attention to any specific error messages you receive, as they can provide clues about what might be going wrong. If the error persists, consider checking for updates or patches for AutoCAD Electrical that might address compatibility issues with the Access Database Engine.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consult further documentation or support specific to AutoCAD Electrical and its integration with Access Database Engine.

References:

• Can't establish a connection to Access Database Engine OLE DB
• Connection error when using CurrentProject.Connection or CurrentDB.Connection in Access
• Unable to use the Access ODBC, OLEDB, or DAO interfaces outside Office Click-to-Run applications