stand alone version of access

Question

stand alone version of access

Lucille Siebold 0

If I purchase and own the stand alone version of access will I be able to open my previously access documents and continue using program after Oct 1, 2026?

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3 answers

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Answer 1

Hi,

The AI has already provided some information. To add to that:

If you now buy a standalone version of Access, it will be the current retail/perpetual version, Access 2024, with support through October 2029. You can find all relevant support cycles for Access in our AFo article.

As the AI mentioned, the end of support doesn’t mean your Access databases will stop working, it just means you'll no longer receive any (or very few) updates and no further support from Microsoft. Your databases will continue to work as long as you aren't using ancient file formats or other technologies that have since been discontinued.

Servus
Karl

Access Forever, News, DevCon
Access-Entwickler-Konferenz AEK 10./11.10. Nürnberg

Answer 2

Liora 1,810 Independent Advisor

Dear @Lucille Siebold,

I hope you’re having a good day.

Yes, in general, if you purchase a standalone version of Microsoft Access, you should still be able to open and continue using your existing Access databases after October 1, 2026.

The key point is that"end of support" does not mean "the application stops working." When a version reaches its end-of-support date, Microsoft typically stops providing security updates, bug fixes, and technical support, but the installed application can usually continue to run and open existing database files.

One detail that may be helpful is which standalone version you are considering:

Access 2021 is supported until October 13, 2026.
Access LTSC 2024 is supported until October 9, 2029.

Microsoft Access itself is not being discontinued and remains available as part of current Microsoft Office offerings, including Office LTSC 2024.

If your goal is simply to continue opening and working with your existing Access databases, a standalone Access license remains a viable option. The main consideration is choosing a version that still has the support lifecycle you are comfortable with.

You may also find the official Access Team Blog useful for staying informed about product updates and upcoming features:

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/category/microsoft365/blog/accessblog

Kind regards.

If the answer is helpful, please select "Yes, accept answer". If you have any questions or new updates, please feel free to comment below.

Karl Donaubauer 3,661 Reputation points MVP

2026-09-15T15:41:51.74+00:00

Hi,

Access LTSC 2024

If someone buys the standalone version of Access, this is NOT the LTSC variant, which is volume licensed, but just "Access 2024". The support period is the same but the distinction is important in other respects, especially to which updates the variant gets.

Servus
Karl
Access Forever, News, DevCon
Access-Entwickler-Konferenz AEK
Liora 1,810 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-16T07:37:07.01+00:00

Hi Karl,

Thank you for the clarification.

For a standalone retail purchase, the product would be Access 2024, whereas Access LTSC 2024 is the volume-licensed edition for organizations. While the support timeline is similar, they are different licensing channels and receive updates differently.

I appreciate you pointing that out for the benefit of the original poster.

Kind regards.

Answer 3

Yes. A standalone, one-time-purchase version of Access can continue to function after October 2026, and installed Office apps may continue to open, edit, and save existing files after support ends.

Two important distinctions apply:

End of support is not the same as stop working
When support ends, Microsoft stops providing security updates, bug fixes, and technical support. The apps may still continue to function.
File compatibility still matters
Existing Access files can generally still be opened in Access, but some file types have version-specific limits. For example, older ADP projects are supported only in earlier versions of Access and are not updated to support newer SQL Server versions.

If the goal is to keep using existing Access databases beyond 2026, a standalone Access version remains a valid path, but it would not receive ongoing support after its own lifecycle ends.