Alive & Well In 2025
By Richard Rost
3 years ago
Microsoft Access: Alive & Well In 2025
Well folks it's that time again. Time to answer everyone who emails me at least once a week asking if Microsoft is planning to retire Access. This video was made in 2023 and I can say - still today in 2025 - with confidence that Microsoft Access is very much alive and well.
It's 2026...
Same same. Access is still reliably running millions of small businesses for decades. Nothing has changed. Although the original 2023 video is probably due for a re-record soon. :)
It's 2025...
Yep - Access is still kickin' and I still keep getting the emails and comments. Access 2024 was just released late last year and it has guaranteed support until at least October of 2029. So... yeah...
It's 2024...
While I haven't updated this video since last year, everything is still perfectly valid and the same. Access ain't goin' nowhere. See the Updates section below.
Links
Updates
- 2024-06-19: Microsoft confirms Access will be in Office 2024, including full support thru 2029.
- 2024-03-21: Daniel Pineault assures us that Microsoft Access is Alive, Under Active Development, & Not Dead.
- 2023-06-05: Article from Juan Soto with Access Experts Software Solutions: The State of Access in 2023
- 2023-02-18: Another great article on the topic from Karl Donaubauer over at Access Forever on how you (the Access developer) can counter rumors of Access' demise.
- 2023-02-17: The Current State of Access - presentation for the DAAUG by Karl Donaubauer.
- 2023-01-13: A student emailed me today concerned that he was "in a meeting today and was told that Microsoft will no longer be supporting Access after 2025." Yes, Access 2016 and 2019 will be heading for "end of support" in 2025, but that's just their normal schedule. They do it with ALL of their software. They're still supporting Microsoft 365, Access 2021 and whatever version comes next. Here's the full list of products reaching "end of support" in 2025. Excel and Word are on there too. Don't panic. I told him to "forward a copy of [my video] to whatever fartknocker told you this and send them a heaping serving of my SCORN!"
My Previous Video & Links
More Info
The last time I updated this video was back in 2020. I posted some links to other articles and videos including interviews with Access team managers at Microsoft. They were very emphatic that Access is alive and well and that Microsoft is continuing to develop and support it. https://599cd.com/AccessGoingAway
In fact, this question just came up again in a November 2022 online meeting of the Denver Area Access User Group where they asked team members from Microsoft if there were any plans to deprecate Access and of course their answer was absolutely not. https://youtu.be/TC8b6DrCh7Y?t=3359
So here are some of the top questions I've been asked over the last three years since I previously updated this video. The first one is: "is Microsoft Access still available?" Some people can't seem to figure out how to buy it. Well yes Microsoft Access is still available either as a standalone purchase or as part of a Microsoft 365 business subscription, which is what I recommend. https://599cd.com/BuyAccess
Is Microsoft Access free? No unfortunately unlike word and excel there is no free online version of Access. It's a desktop application only. However, if you're planning to deploy an Access solution to your office you only need to purchase one copy of Access itself. Only the developer who is building the database needs a paid copy. Everyone else in your office can run the free runtime edition. https://599cd.com/Runtime
Why should I use Microsoft Access? The top reasons are that Access is still the most popular desktop database solution for small and midsized companies. Access has a proven 30-year track record of success and yes it just celebrated its 30th birthday back in November. Access is much easier to use than other high end database solutions. It works well with other Microsoft Office products and integrates easily with things like word excel and outlook. There is tons of support out there from Microsoft Access including thousands of free videos from people like me. And if you get to the point where you start to outgrow Access you can very easily upscale it to SQL Server. Benefits of Access: https://599cd.com/Benefits
Is Microsoft still supporting Access and adding new features? Yep. They've got a page on their website called the Microsoft 365 road map where they outline what they're working on and when they expect to release it. Access Roadmap: https://tinyurl.com/yy9vbafr
Does Access work online? Access by itself is only a windows desktop application however there are lots of different ways you can use your database online including connecting to SharePoint or SQL Server, working with remote desktop software, or using a service such as Access database cloud. https://599cd.com/AConWEB
So, as you can see Microsoft Access is still very much alive and well in 2023 and will be for the foreseeable future. What I'm going to do now is include my 2020 version of this video that goes into even more detail about how Access is still relevant. Pretty much everything that I said back then is still valid today.
Keywords
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Intro In this video, we will talk about the ongoing rumors regarding the future of Microsoft Access and answer the frequently asked question: is Microsoft planning to retire Access? I will discuss Microsoft's continued development and support for Access, including recent statements from the Access Team and updates about the latest versions and features. You will also learn about the current ways to purchase Microsoft Access, how the free runtime version works for users, and the many reasons Access remains a top choice for desktop database solutions. If you are concerned about Access being discontinued, this video will help clear up the confusion.Transcript Welcome to another Fast Tips video brought to you by AccessLearningZone.com. I am your instructor, Richard Rost.
Well folks, it's that time again. Time to answer everyone who emails me once a week or so asking if Microsoft is planning to retire Access. Well, it's now 2023, and I'm going to tell you the same thing I told you back in 2020 when I did a similar video: I can say with all confidence that Microsoft Access is very much alive and well.
The last time I did this video was back in 2020. I posted some links to some articles and other videos, including interviews with the Access Team Managers at Microsoft. They were very emphatic that Access is alive and well and that Microsoft is continuing to develop and support it. I'll post links to these other videos down below, and I'll include a copy of my video at the end of the one you're watching now.
In fact, this question just came up again. It comes up all the time. In a November 2022 online meeting of the Denver area Access User Group, they asked team members from Microsoft if there were any plans to deprecate Access or get rid of it. Their answer was absolutely not. I'll include a link to this video down below.
Here are some of the top questions I've been asked over the last three years since I previously updated this video.
The first one is, is Microsoft Access still available? Some people can't seem to figure out how to buy it. Lots of people have emailed me saying they went to Microsoft's website, tried to buy Office, and don't see Access in it. Access is available either as a standalone purchase or as part of a Microsoft 365 subscription, but you have to pick the business subscription. It doesn't come as part of the standard one that's got Word and Excel and all that stuff. You've got to get the business version. I've got a whole video explaining this. I'll post a link down below that you can click on.
Is Access free? No, unfortunately, like Word and Excel, there is no free online version of Access. If you go to Office.com, they've got free versions of those. Access is a Windows desktop application only.
However, if you're planning on deploying an Access solution to your office, you only need to purchase one copy of Access itself. Only the developer who's building the database needs a paid copy. Everyone else in your office can run the free runtime edition. Again, I've got a video for that as well. If you've got 30 people in your office, you only need to buy one copy of Access so you can build the database, and then the 29 other people can use the free version.
Why should you use Microsoft Access? I've got dozens of reasons why, but the top reasons are that Access is still the most popular desktop database solution for small and midsize companies. No one else comes close. Access has a proven 30-year track record of success, and yes, it just celebrated its 30th birthday back in November of 2022. I've been working with it since 1994, so most of that time.
Access is much easier to use than other high-end database solutions, a lot easier to learn. It works well with other Microsoft Office products and integrates easily with things like Word, Excel, and Outlook. There's lots of support out there, including tons of free videos on YouTube from people like me, lots of other great newsgroups, message boards, and other websites. I can name a bunch of them, but there's tons of support out there for Access.
If you do get to the point where you start to outgrow Access as far as the data storage needs go, you can very easily upscale to something like SQL Server. Again, I've got another entire video talking about all the features and benefits and why you should use Microsoft Access. There's a lot more than I mentioned here. Go watch that video.
Is Microsoft still supporting Access and adding new features? Yes, they've got a page on their website called the Microsoft 365 Roadmap where they outline what they're working on and when they expect to release it. I'll post a link to this down below as well. Just like next they're coming out with a new modern web browser control. The old web browser control used Internet Explorer, so they're giving it an upgrade.
Does Access work online? Access by itself is only a Windows desktop application. Sorry Mac users, no version for you. However, there are a lot of different ways you can use your database online, including connecting your data to SharePoint or SQL Server, working with remote desktop software, or using a service such as Access Database Cloud. Again, I've got a whole video on this one. Go watch that video.
As you can see, Microsoft Access is still very much alive and well in 2023 and for the foreseeable future. Access is my personal priority, and I plan to keep releasing new videos every week to teach you how to use Microsoft Access.
What I'm going to do now is include my 2020 version of this video that goes into even more detail about how Access is still relevant, and pretty much everything that I said in that video is still valid today.
Thanks for watching and enjoy.
Welcome to another TechHelp video brought to you by AccessLearningZone.com. I am your instructor, Richard Rost.
In today's video, we're going to answer that age-old question that I get asked all the time: is Access going away? I have literally been asked this by dozens if not hundreds of customers over my 20-some year career with Access. I get asked a few times a month, probably once a week. Someone says they've heard rumors that Microsoft is discontinuing Access. Is this true?
The short answer: no, absolutely not. Microsoft Access is definitely alive and well and here to stay for the foreseeable future. Microsoft has already announced that they're continuing support for Access 2019, which is the most current version, through 2025. They've also announced a new version of Access to be released with Office 2022. So that doesn't sound like it's going away anytime soon.
Microsoft has a What's New page so you can see what's new in the latest version of Access and in the most recent Microsoft 365 releases. I'll put links you can click on in the description down below the video. There's also a Future Roadmap page where you can go and see all the things they're working on that haven't been released yet. You can see that the Microsoft Access team is busy and they're constantly making new changes and updates. They're adding a new web browser control, a new SQL editor so it works the same as when you're in the VBA editor, and lots more features.
Just this past weekend, I attended the Access Cascade Conference 2020 by J Street Technology. J Street has been putting together these great Access Day conferences for as long as I can remember. I was a co-sponsor for one back in 2014. I had a lot of fun. This year the conference was held virtually due to COVID, but it was still a great time and I learned a lot.
I've got one video clip you should watch. It's from Armand Stein of J Street Technology talking to Ebo Kwanza, the Microsoft Access Program Manager, the guy at Microsoft in charge of Access. He said there's no plan at all for Access to leave. Access is definitely here to stay and, quote, "I want to make it clear that's not the truth" referring to Access being retired. He's very adamant that Access isn't going anywhere. There's a link right there to the video. I'll put it down below so you can just click on it.
Here's another clip with Ebo from an Access User Group's interview in 2019 where he said Access is not dead and that's something the world needs to know. Access is used by 95 percent of Microsoft's Fortune 500 clients. And he was asked if Access will be around in 10 years. He said nothing is going to be replacing Access on the desktop. There may be new apps for web or phone, but Access will be around for at least the next 10 years.
So why all this confusion? Why are there so many people saying that Access is being discontinued? Back in 2017, Microsoft shut down Access Web Apps. Access Web Apps were introduced back in 2013 and allowed you to create browser-based front ends for a web-hosted database using Microsoft Access. You could put your tables up on the web in SQL Server or SharePoint and connect to them, and Access would create a web-based interface for that. They didn't really work very well, and they never caught on. So in 2017 Microsoft announced they were discontinuing them.
This, of course, led to a slew of companies and consultants pushing people away from Access and into other products. This also caused a lot of false and misleading claims that still confuse people today, that Microsoft is discontinuing the desktop version of Access, which is not true.
I have personally been to dozens of Microsoft and Access-specific events over the past decade, and the Microsoft people continue to assure everyone that Access is alive and well. If anyone has any direct evidence of Microsoft saying they're discontinuing the desktop version of Access, I invite you to send me a link and I'll post a video.
I did some research while making this video and I've seen a lot of back and forth in web forums. On the plus side, saying that Access is here to stay are the Microsoft team members, the actual employees, MVPs and former MVPs like myself who have been using Access for 25 plus years. All the people who say it's dying either don't use it, or they're consultants or companies pushing different solutions.
I've actually found a lot of false and misleading claims on a lot of websites saying that Access is being discontinued. I'm surprised Microsoft doesn't take legal action against some of them. Here's one that says Microsoft is planning to remove Access from Office 365, which is not true, and therefore Access users will need to look for alternative systems to run their desktop databases. Again, absolutely not true. They use headlines like "Microsoft Access retires gracefully," but of course they're pushing other solutions. Why? They say right there they might get a commission if you purchase one of their other recommended solutions.
Here's another company saying, "Is Microsoft Access dying?" with a picture of a grim reaper and the subtitle, "The Future of Microsoft Access is bleak." They say the movement away from Access is unstoppable given its limitations. Microsoft obviously realizes this and is itself pushing Access users to Power Apps. Yes, they are investing in Power Apps, but they're not stopping investing in Microsoft Access as well for desktop development. And of course, this is a company that is recommending a different solution.
Is Microsoft trying to push people out of Access and into something different? Absolutely not, they said in the Access Cascade Conference. They want us to continue using Access even more than we do today. And in the conference, they went through a lot of new cool technologies that are coming out to help you share your Access data online. I'll be releasing more videos on this as that technology becomes available.
In the meantime, there are technologies you can use to share your database online such as SharePoint or SQL Server. I personally have a virtual desktop setup for myself so I can use Access on my Android phone, and that works pretty good. In the future, lots of new technologies are coming, like Power Apps and Common Data Services.
The bottom line, and what I want you to take away from this video, is that Access is still the best database solution for the desktop. I've been working with Access for 25 plus years, and nothing beats it. It's still the best for small and mid-sized database solutions. Even for enterprise level database needs, Access is still a great front end to be used with a server like SQL Server. When you take into consideration rapid development time, cost of development and learning, maintenance, overhead, Access is by far the best solution.
I hope this video has alleviated some of your fears as to whether or not Access is being discontinued anytime soon. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.
If you're new to Access and wondering whether or not it's for you, I've got a free 3 hour long Access Level 1 class. It's absolutely free. It's on my website and on my YouTube channel.
I hope you enjoyed this video and you learned something today. On behalf of myself, Richard Rost, and Access Learning Zone, thanks for watching.Quiz Q1. According to Richard Rost, what is the current status of Microsoft Access?
A. Microsoft Access is discontinued and not supported.
B. Microsoft Access is alive, well, and actively supported.
C. Microsoft Access is only available for Mac users.
D. Microsoft Access is being replaced by Power Apps immediately.
Q2. How can someone purchase Microsoft Access as of 2023?
A. Only as a part of the personal Office 365 subscription
B. Only as a free download from Office.com
C. As a standalone application or as part of a Microsoft 365 business subscription
D. By subscribing to Power Apps
Q3. Is there a free online version of Microsoft Access available?
A. Yes, it is available at Office.com.
B. No, Access is only a paid Windows desktop application.
C. Yes, but only for Mac users.
D. Yes, but it is limited to 5 users.
Q4. If a company wants to deploy an Access database to 30 employees, how many paid copies of Access do they need for application runtime users?
A. 30 paid copies, one for each employee
B. 15 paid copies
C. Only the developer needs a paid copy; other users can use the free runtime edition
D. 10 paid copies and 20 free trial versions
Q5. What is one main reason for the ongoing confusion about Microsoft Access being discontinued?
A. Microsoft has announced it's ending all Office products.
B. Discontinuation of Access Web Apps in 2017 led to misleading claims.
C. Access is not compatible with Windows.
D. Microsoft only supports Access for education institutions.
Q6. What makes Access a popular choice for small and midsize businesses?
A. It is only available for enterprise-level organizations.
B. It doesn't integrate with other Microsoft applications.
C. It has a 30-year track record and integrates easily with other Microsoft Office products.
D. It requires monthly updates with extra fees.
Q7. What is a key feature of Access regarding data scalability?
A. You must rebuild your database to move past 1,000 records.
B. Access cannot connect to other databases like SQL Server.
C. Access data can be upscaled to SQL Server when needed.
D. Access only supports Excel files for scaling up.
Q8. How does Microsoft communicate new features and upcoming changes for Access?
A. Through secret email lists only MVPs can access
B. Through their Microsoft 365 Roadmap and What's New page
C. By direct phone calls to Access users
D. By mailing paper newsletters
Q9. What is the main limitation of Access in terms of operating systems?
A. Access only runs on web browsers.
B. Access is only available for Mac users.
C. Access is a Windows-only desktop application.
D. Access only works on Linux systems.
Q10. How can users work with Access databases online if Access itself is desktop-only?
A. There is absolutely no way to use Access databases online.
B. By connecting Access data to SharePoint, SQL Server, or using remote desktop and cloud services
C. Only by converting Access to Excel
D. By creating Access Web Apps, which are still supported
Q11. According to Ebo Kwanza, what is the outlook for Access in the next 10 years?
A. Access will be removed from all desktops immediately.
B. Nothing is replacing Access on the desktop; it is expected to remain available.
C. Access will only run on mobile phones.
D. SQL Server will completely replace Access in 2 years.
Q12. According to Richard Rost, why do some people and companies claim Access is dying?
A. They have accurate inside information from Microsoft.
B. Microsoft told them directly to avoid Access.
C. Some are pushing alternative solutions they sell, often for commissions.
D. Access only sold five copies in the last year.
Q13. What should you take away as the primary message from this video?
A. Access is being discontinued soon and you should look for alternatives.
B. Access is only for expert programmers.
C. Access remains the best desktop solution for small and midsize database needs and is not being discontinued.
D. Access has severe compatibility issues with other Office products.
Answers: 1-B; 2-C; 3-B; 4-C; 5-B; 6-C; 7-C; 8-B; 9-C; 10-B; 11-B; 12-C; 13-C
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 video from Access Learning Zone focuses on a question that comes up frequently in the Access community: is Microsoft Access being discontinued? I'm Richard Rost, your instructor, and I receive regular questions about the future of Access, sometimes weekly, and I continue to assure everyone that Access is alive and thriving.
Back in 2020, I provided an update on Access that addressed many of these concerns. Since then, I have kept a close eye on the topic, including by sharing interviews from Microsoft's Access Team Managers who made it very clear that Access is not being retired. Microsoft continues to support, develop, and promote Access as a flagship desktop database solution. Just recently, in a late 2022 Access User Group meeting, Microsoft representatives once again confirmed there are no plans to phase out Access, and these statements are backed by repeated public commitments. I'll include links to those videos and articles on my website for anyone who wants additional details.
A common question I receive is whether Microsoft Access is still available for purchase. Some users find it difficult to locate Access when they try to buy Office from Microsoft. Access is indeed available, but you need to either purchase it as a standalone program or select a Microsoft 365 business subscription. Access is not included in the usual home versions alongside Word and Excel. I have an entire video explaining exactly which subscriptions include Access and how to obtain it.
Another frequent question is whether Access is free. Like Word and Excel, Access does not have a free online version. It is a Windows-only desktop application and is not available for Mac or as a web app. However, there is a free runtime version for end users. If your office needs to run an Access database application, only the developer needs a licensed version of Access. Everyone else can use the free runtime edition, which keeps costs down for larger deployments.
Why choose Microsoft Access? There are many reasons. Access remains the most-used desktop database program, especially among small and mid-sized businesses. It has a proven 30-year history and a wealth of resources to help new users get started. Access is much easier to learn than many enterprise database systems, integrates seamlessly with other Office programs such as Word, Excel, and Outlook, and has excellent community support. If you ever outgrow Access for data storage, you can migrate to SQL Server while still using Access as the front end. I cover these points and more in several detailed videos that are available for further learning.
Regarding ongoing support, Microsoft continuously releases new features for Access. The Microsoft 365 Roadmap page publicly lists what is currently under development or scheduled for future release, such as an upgraded web browser control and new tools for developers. Access is included in Microsoft's future plans, with support guaranteed for current and upcoming Office versions.
A related question is whether Access works online. While Access itself is a desktop application, there are several ways to connect it to online data sources. You can link your Access database to SharePoint, SQL Server, or use remote desktop solutions. For those seeking a cloud-based solution, there are third-party services that offer Access hosting. I have videos that demonstrate each of these options.
Despite persistent rumors, Microsoft Access is in no danger of disappearing. Some confusion originates from Microsoft's discontinuation of Access Web Apps in 2017, which allowed for browser-based interfaces built with Access. This has unfortunately led some consultants and companies to spread misinformation for their own interests. However, all official communication from Microsoft confirms the continued development and support of the core desktop Access application.
I have attended numerous conferences and have spoken directly with Microsoft representatives. Their message is emphatic: Access is a core part of their strategy, widely used by their largest clients, and is not being phased out. If anyone ever finds concrete evidence to the contrary, I welcome you to share it so that we can address these rumors with facts.
To sum it all up, Access continues to be the leading desktop database tool. It is cost-effective, efficient, and deeply integrated in the business world. With proper planning, it can also scale to connect to large, enterprise-level data storage systems while remaining user-friendly. I highly encourage anyone still uncertain about Access's future to watch my full video on this topic, as well as my free three-hour Access Level 1 class available on my website and YouTube channel.
For those interested in the original, more detailed 2020 version of this video, it is included after the main presentation. Everything discussed then still applies today.
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 Is Microsoft planning to retire Access
Microsoft's official support for Access
How to purchase Microsoft Access
Differences between standalone and 365 versions
Availability of the free runtime edition for users
Common misconceptions about Access being discontinued
Overview of Access Web Apps discontinuation
Why Access rumors persist in the community
Access integration with Office products
Scalability options for Access databases
Access 365 Roadmap and upcoming features
Access desktop exclusivity (not available for Mac)
Options for using Access databases online
Microsoft's ongoing investments in Access
Role of Access in enterprise and Fortune 500 companies
Access as a front-end for SQL Server
Comparison of Access with alternative database solutions
Overview of community and online support for Access |
