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Written By Rohan Wiese
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Updated on August 8th, 2025
When you’re working in Microsoft Access and it suddenly quits without warning, it can be both confusing and stressful. One user shared that every time their Access database shuts down, it automatically creates two files: myfilename.Back up.mdb (To keep the original full file size) and myfilename.mdb (Compact version with a much smaller size). This raises two big questions: Which file should you open to keep working safely? And why unexpectedly Quit Errors in Microsoft Access occur?
If you’ve faced something similar, unexpected crashes, backup files appearing out of nowhere, or worries about data loss, you’re not alone. In this guide, you’ll find clear answers about what’s happening behind the scenes, how to choose the right file, and the best ways, including the Aryson Access Database Recovery Tool to fix the problem so you can get back to work without fear of losing your data. Download Now Purchase Now
Here, we will know why this kind of issues happens. Ge, it comes down to database corruption or conflicts. Here are some of the most common causes:

When Access finds a problem, it often creates a smaller version of your file to protect the data. That’s why you see a compacted file next to your original backup.
Here are some steps you can follow to fix runtime error Microsoft Access and protect your data:
The Aryson Access Database Recovery Tool is a multiprocessing yet easy-to-use solution to repair corrupt or damaged Microsoft Access database files. Either you have an .mdb file or .accdb format, you can recover everything with this utility. Also, it will be helpful to restore tables, queries, forms, and reports to relationships and macros. It is quite helpful when Access crashes with errors like “unexpectedly quit” or refuses to open a file at all. Hence, it is expert expert-recommended solution to scan, preview, and recover data in just a few simple steps. With the use of this software, you can save all the Access database issues with ease.
Simply run and open the Aryson Access Database Recovery Tool on your system.
Now, pick the Access database file with which your error is associated with>>Open.
Here, you can pick the recovery mode and file version according to your requirement.
All your selected file starts scanning, and it will recover all the access database files.
Next, you can enter the file location and click Ok when it shows the saving process completes.
You can try the built-in Compact and Repair tool that Microsoft Access provides. So that it can reorganize and compact your database. Also, it fixes small internal errors. But remember that it works if the corruption is not too severe.
Sometimes, the issue can be related to missing or outdated library references used in your VBA code.
Access crashes when it tries to use a broken reference while executing VBA code. You should always test the database when you make some changes to see if the issue is resolved.
If Access still crashes, it might be better to work with a backup copy or create a brand-new database.
Option A: Use the.Back up.mdb file
This file usually contains your original data before Access crashed. Hence, try to open it directly and see if the issue exists or not.
Option B: Create a new database and import objects:
Starting over in a different database can occasionally help get around internal corruption in the original file.
Keeping everything up to date is one of the simplest but most overlooked solutions.
To update Microsoft Access:
To update Windows:
Updates often fix bugs or patch compatibility issues that may be causing Access to crash.
After applying updates to complete the process, restart your system
Manual methods may not always be enough. Here’s why:
When you follow the right methods, like Compact and Repair or update your software, you can fix minor issues easily. For more serious problems, the Aryson Access Database Recovery Tool can help you to recover unexpectedly quit Errors in Microsoft Access. By the way, it’s always a better initiative to keep backups and maintain your database regularly to avoid such errors in the future.
Ans: Yes, you can try using the built-in Compact and Repair feature. However, it may not work for severely corrupted files.
Ans: Yes. You can always back up your database to avoid forced shutdowns. So keep the software updated. And split large databases into front-end and back-end.
Ans: In that case, using Aryson Access Database Recovery is the best option to recover your data safely.
Ans: Yes, Aryson Access Database Recovery supports both file formats and can recover tables, queries, forms, and other database elements.
About The Author:
Rohan Wiese is a Technical Content Writer at Aryson Technologies, specializing in databases, e-mail recovery, and e-mail migration solutions. He enjoys conducting research and generating information that assists database administrators, businesses, and novices in resolving issues with MS SQL Server, MySQL databases, Cloud Computing, and Microsoft Exchange.
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