Wizards Don't Start
By Richard Rost
3 years ago
What to do if the Control Wizards Don't Start
In this Microsoft Access tutorial I'm going to teach you what to do if the control wizards don't start in Microsoft Access. This includes the combo box wizard, the command button wizard, and so on. I'm going to show you the beginner solution and then an expert solutions if the beginner solution doesn't work.
Amelia from Pawtucket, Rhode Island (a Platinum Member) asks: I'm watching your Microsoft Access Beginner Level 2 class and I'm trying to follow along where you use the combo box wizard and the command button wizard but neither one of them will start. I just get the control on the form but that's it. What am I doing wrong?
Prerequisites
Links
Recommended Courses
Checklist
- Restart Database
- Restart Windows
- Make sure ACCWIZ folder is in your trusted locations
- Make sure "Disable all trusted locations" is NOT checked
- Try a different or new ACCDB file
- Reinstall Office
- Troubleshooter
Keywords
access 2016, access 2019, access 2021, access 365, microsoft access, ms access, ms access tutorial, #msaccess, #microsoftaccess, #help, #howto, #tutorial, #learn, #lesson, #training, #database, Use Control Wizards, Microsoft Access can't start this wizard, Microsoft Access can't find the wizard, The wizard you've requested is not installed, Command Button Wizard doesn't start, Activate control wizards, Command Button Wizard Won't Open
Intro In this video, we will talk about what to do if the control wizards, such as the Combo Box Wizard and Command Button Wizard, do not start in your Microsoft Access database. I will show you a quick beginner solution to check if you accidentally turned off control wizards, and then cover some expert troubleshooting steps including verifying trusted locations, restarting Microsoft Access, and reinstalling Office if needed. If your wizards are missing or not working, this video has the steps you should try.Transcript Welcome to another TechHelp video brought to you by AccessLearningZone.com. I am your instructor, Richard Rost.
Today, we are going to talk about what to do if the control wizards do not start in your Microsoft Access Database. This is going to be both a beginner and an expert video. We are going to talk about the simple beginner solution, and then if that does not work, we are going to talk about an expert solution or two to try to see what is going on.
Today's question comes from Amelia in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, one of my platinum members. She says, I am watching your Microsoft Access Beginner Level 2 class and I am trying to follow along and use the Combo Box Wizard and the Command Button Wizard, but neither one of them will start. I just get the control on the form, but that is it. What am I doing wrong?
Well, Amelia, the simple solution is that you probably accidentally turned off the control wizards. Let me show you that.
Here I am in my TechHelp free template. This is a free database you can download from my website if you want to, but this applies to pretty much any database. If you go into Design View and try to add a control like a Command Button to your form and nothing happens, you just get the button. Or you pick something else, like one of my favorites, the Combo Box Wizard. You draw it out where you want it, and nothing happens. You just get the empty control. What probably happened was, if you drop this down, right down here you will see an option that says "Use Control Wizards." You probably just accidentally turned that off. Just click on that. That will turn it back on. If you drop it down again, you will see there is a little box around it now. And now, if I pick a Command Button and click down here, there it goes. The Wizard starts up. See? That was easy.
That is the beginner solution. That is the simple solution. Let me cancel that and delete all this junk that I just put on here.
If you have done that and the wizards still do not start, something could be wrong with your database or even your installation of Access, or it could just be a setting. Let me show you a few things.
First, and the first thing you should always try, is close your database and restart it. Just shut it down and then reopen it. If that does not work, restart Windows.
Here, we will start a little checklist. Restart your database first. Shut down all instances of Access. If you have to, go in the Task Manager and make sure they are all shut down.
If that still does not fix it, restart Windows itself. Do not just close your laptop lid and open it; actually do a Start - Restart Windows, because it shuts everything down and starts up Windows fresh.
If you tried both of those things and it still does not work, make sure your ACCWiz folder is in your trusted locations.
What does that mean? Let us go take a look at where your trusted locations are. And if you do not know what a trusted location is, go watch this video. I will put a link down below for you.
To find your trusted locations, go to File and then Options. Then go to your Trust Center, Trust Center Settings, and then Trusted Locations. Mine is way down at the bottom. It says "Access Default Location Wizard Databases." Mine says C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office\\root\\Office16\\ACCWiz. That is where the wizards are located.
While you are in here, make sure this is not checked: "Disable all trusted locations." Make sure that is unchecked. Make sure this guy is in there. If not, you can add it manually. This is especially true if you have installed over an old version of Access, like you had Access 2010, then you upgraded to 2013, then you upgraded to 2016, and so on. Sometimes these things do not update properly. That is why I always recommend before upgrading Office or any other program, uninstall the old one first. Just wipe it.
That is another reason why I like the new Microsoft subscription because they send you constant updates and they are always making sure it is up to date.
Next on the list, still not working? Try a different database. Try a new database. You could have a corrupted database file.
Still not working? Try reinstalling Office. Uninstall what you have, reinstall again, fresh brand new. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, that will fix it right there.
Finally, if it is not something on this list, try my troubleshooter. I have a whole video on a bunch of different stuff you can try if Access is acting weird and you cannot figure out why. There it is right there. I will put a link to that down below.
There you go. That is what you should try if your control wizards are not starting.
That is your TechHelp video for today. I hope you learned something.
Live long and prosper, my friends. I will see you next time.Quiz Q1. What is the most common reason the Combo Box or Command Button Wizard does not start when adding it to a Microsoft Access form?
A. The control wizards are accidentally turned off
B. The database file is corrupted
C. Access needs to be reinstalled
D. There is not enough memory on your computer
Q2. Where can you enable or disable the control wizards in Access?
A. In the Windows Control Panel
B. From the "Use Control Wizards" option in the toolbar
C. In the Query Design window
D. Under the File - Save As menu
Q3. Which of the following is the correct beginner solution if control wizards do not start?
A. Reinstall Microsoft Office
B. Turn on "Use Control Wizards" in the toolbar
C. Increase your database size limit
D. Upgrade to the Professional version of Access
Q4. If enabling the control wizards does not solve the problem, what should you try next?
A. Change your Windows login
B. Restart the database and Windows
C. Add more RAM to the computer
D. Reboot only Microsoft Word
Q5. Why is it important to have the ACCWiz folder in your trusted locations?
A. It contains password settings for the database
B. It allows Access to run the control wizards properly
C. It stores all your tables and queries
D. It controls the font settings in Access
Q6. How can you check or add the ACCWiz folder to your trusted locations in Access?
A. Through File - Options - Trust Center - Trust Center Settings - Trusted Locations
B. By editing the Windows Registry
C. By reinstalling your graphics drivers
D. Through the Database Tools tab
Q7. What should you make sure is NOT checked in the Trusted Locations settings for wizards to work?
A. "Disable control wizards"
B. "Limit records shown"
C. "Disable all trusted locations"
D. "Hide system objects"
Q8. If creating a new database fixes the wizard problem, what does this suggest about the original database file?
A. It cannot be opened on your computer
B. It may be corrupted
C. It is in read-only mode
D. It is using outdated fonts
Q9. If all basic troubleshooting steps fail and wizards still do not work, what is a recommended next step?
A. Purchase a new computer
B. Reinstall Microsoft Office
C. Switch to Apple MacOS
D. Only use keyboard shortcuts
Q10. Why might you prefer the new Microsoft Office subscription model according to the video?
A. It reduces your internet usage
B. You receive constant updates and the latest fixes
C. It is cheaper than all other options
D. It only works online
Answers: 1-A; 2-B; 3-B; 4-B; 5-B; 6-A; 7-C; 8-B; 9-B; 10-B
DISCLAIMER: Quiz questions are AI generated. If you find any that are wrong, don't make sense, or aren't related to the video topic at hand, then please post a comment and let me know. Thanks.Summary Today's TechHelp tutorial from Access Learning Zone focuses on troubleshooting Microsoft Access when the control wizards do not start. I want to explain what to do if you are trying to use the Combo Box Wizard or Command Button Wizard and you find that nothing happens. This guide is suitable for both beginners and experienced users, as I will cover some simple fixes first and then share more advanced troubleshooting steps if needed.
Let me begin by addressing a common question. Sometimes, when you try to add a control to your form in Design View, whether it is a command button, a combo box, or another control, the expected wizard does not appear. Instead, you just get the blank control placed on your form but no wizard prompts you for further setup.
The most likely cause is that the control wizards feature has been accidentally turned off. It is a common issue especially if you are new to Access or have recently changed settings without realizing it. To resolve this, make sure that the 'Use Control Wizards' option is enabled. When this setting is active, you will see it indicated, and the wizards should appear any time you add a relevant control to your form.
If you have already checked that setting and the wizards are still not launching, don't worry. There are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot further.
First, try closing your database completely and reopening it. Occasionally, Access just needs to restart to fix minor glitches. If that does not solve the problem, proceed to restart Windows itself. It is important that you actually restart your system rather than just closing the lid of your laptop. Performing a full restart ensures everything is cleared and loads fresh.
If the wizards are still not working, the next thing to check is whether the ACCWiz folder is included in your trusted locations. The access wizards are stored in a specific folder, typically something like C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office\\root\\Office16\\ACCWiz. For Access to launch the wizards, that folder must be trusted. To check this, go into the File menu, open Options, navigate to the Trust Center, click on Trust Center Settings, and open Trusted Locations. Look for the Access Default Location for Wizard Databases in the list. Make sure the correct path to the ACCWiz folder is listed and that 'Disable all trusted locations' is not checked. If this location is missing, you can add it manually. This step is especially important if you have upgraded Access across multiple versions, as sometimes these settings do not automatically update.
If after confirming trusted locations the problem persists, your database file itself could be corrupted. Try opening or creating a different database to see if the wizards work there. If they do, the problem is specific to your file. If they still do not function, consider reinstalling Microsoft Office completely. Uninstall your current installment, then do a clean reinstallation. In almost all cases, this resolves any remaining issues.
Should none of these solutions fix the issue, I recommend running through my full Access troubleshooter. I have a video that addresses various Access problems and provides a checklist you can follow if the software is acting unpredictably.
These steps give you a comprehensive process to follow if your control wizards are not working in Microsoft Access. Try each in order, and you should be able to solve the problem.
You can find a complete video tutorial with step-by-step instructions on everything discussed here on my website at the link below. Live long and prosper, my friends.Topic List Turning on Use Control Wizards in Access
Verifying ACCWiz folder is in trusted locations
Restarting the database to fix wizard issues
Restarting Windows to resolve wizard problems
Checking trusted locations in Access Trust Center
Adding ACCWiz folder manually to trusted locations
Checking Disable all trusted locations setting
Testing with a new Access database for corruption
Reinstalling Microsoft Office to fix wizard issues |
