How to Manage Database Links MS Access

Updated on:

May 12, 2026

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Use this interactive demo to learn how to view and manage linked table connections in MS Access.

Quick summary

This demo walks you through how to manage database links in Microsoft Access by identifying linked tables and inspecting their connection properties. It covers opening an Access database, spotting linked tables in the Navigation Pane, and reviewing link details using Table Properties.

Steps

Open the Access database to begin managing your database links.
In the Navigation Pane, look for tables marked with a small arrow icon — these indicate linked tables connected to an external source.
Right-click a linked table and select Table Properties to view the details and path of the database link.
Click OK after reviewing the managed database link information to close the properties dialog.

📌 Why this matters

Managing database links in Microsoft Access is essential for keeping multi-source data environments stable and reliable. When Access tables are linked to external databases, broken or outdated links can cause queries and forms to fail silently. Understanding how to identify linked tables in the Navigation Pane and inspect their connection details via Table Properties helps database administrators and power users quickly audit, troubleshoot, and maintain accurate data connections. This capability is especially critical in business environments where Access front-ends connect to shared SQL Server or network-based data sources.

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