Access 365 automatically creating a Backup database file bug?

Question

Is this an Access bug or a new feature?

I have decompile and compile and Compact and Repair. Still....it is creating a backup. Still no luck.

Opening and closing will delete the backup file automatically.

Compact and Repair will create more backup database files. I had to delete them manually.

Some of my database don't have issues. Some do.

See pic attached below. Look at the number with accdb file extension.

Microsoft® Access® for Microsoft 365 MSO (Version 2206 Build 16.0.15330.20260) 64-bit

Answer 1

Dear AccessVandal

Good day! Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community. We are happy to help you.

Based on your description, it seems that your Access 365 always automatically create a Backup database file.

If my understanding is correct, this behavior could happen if Access crashed, and it attempted to recover. In this scenario, please try to use online repair tool to repair your Access then check the behavior: Repair an Office application (microsoft.com)

Besides, it can also happen if you Compacted/Repair the database.  Perhaps manually or if you are using the Compact on Close option (which should be avoided). If so, please turn off Compact on Close option to see the behavior.

As you use Access, it will grow in size, to a certain extent, this is normal.  When you Compact and Repair such space will be reclaimed.

As you mentioned, opening and closing will delete the backup file automatically. This is a normal behavior, For the cache file, it will save din the temp folder: %appdata% \Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles,  please go to this location to check if you can find a file in there to help us narrow down the behavior.

So, we would like to collect more detailed information about the situation you are experiencing so that we can have further investigation:

• Can you tell us how did you created the database file in Access?
• Please share the product information of Access with us so that we can do the same test on our end in the same environment. Please go to File>Account then shares the screenshot with us.

We’re looking forward to your reply and will continue to help you all the time!  If there are any misunderstanding or unclear, you can post back in your free time.

Your understanding and patience will be highly appreciated. I hope that you are keeping safe and well!

Sincerely,

Stacey | Microsoft Community Moderator

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Answer 2

Stacey Feng MSFT

1. If my understanding is correct, this behavior could happen if Access crashed, and it attempted to recover. In this scenario, please try to use online repair tool to repair your Access then check the behavior: Repair an Office application (microsoft.com)

This a a brand new install on new laptop. Windows 11. Everything work fine except this minor issue for Access.

There is no crash. There is no attempt recovery. Did a repair but not online. No odd behavior shown, except when opening Access Explorer File dialog on Local Network Share Folder, sometimes it will be very slow. Take about a minute to open. (with not responding on top bar)

2. As you use Access, it will grow in size, to a certain extent, this is normal.  When you Compact and Repair such space will be reclaimed.

As you mentioned, opening and closing will delete the backup file automatically. This is a normal behavior, For the cache file, it will save din the temp folder: %appdata% \Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles,  please go to this location to check if you can find a file in there to help us narrow down the behavior.

No such Folder. "UnSavedFiles".

3. So, we would like to collect more detailed information about the situation you are experiencing so that we can have further investigation:

• Can you tell us how did you created the database file in Access?
• Please share the product information of Access with us so that we can do the same test on our end in the same environment. Please go to File>Account then shares the screenshot with us.

This was created on Monday 1-Aug-2022. Create in Access - New Database.

Below - if you compact and repair - result multiple backups

Answer 3

This is very much a common symptom of a crash and Access attempting to recover from it by creating a backup. To provide support for any other diagnosis, one possibility is to simply open the accdb, then close it immediately. Does this behavior still occur? If not, that is support for the "crash and recover a backup" scenario during execution of some process that doesn't have a chance to run yet.

If it does still occur, then try holding down the shift key while opening the accdb to bypass startup code; that' would help rule out something in an AutoExec macro or startup code in the form loaded first. Still occurs? We need to dig deeper into objects, primarily VBA to start.

In other words, we shouldn't automatically assume an Access bug. We should start with the assumption there's some problem in this particular accdb. We need to eliminate that possibility first.

One common trouble-shooting step is to create a new, empty accdb. Import all of the tables from this one into your new one. Import all of the other objects (forms, queries, etc.) into it. Does the new one also cause the same problem? If so, we need to dig further into the contents of the accdb, starting with the VBA, I would think.

Answer 4

GroverParkGeorge

1. Creating new blank Database - no luck, still the same. (no tables, forms , modules, no startup, etc)
2. Holding down the shift key - still the same.
3. Creating new database, importing all objects - still the same.

I'm gonna try the online repair later once I have more time to spare.

The only odd thing is that I have other one database that don't have this problem. This is the actual live version and had been for more that 2 years running on Window 10 Office 365. Last OS change was this year March when it was upgraded to Windows 11.

Now with a new laptop, it's showing this behavior except the live one.

Answer 5

Stacey Feng MSFT

Online Repair - no luck.