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Error "Database error 0x80004005: Unrecognized database format"

Published: 01 Mar 2013
Last Modified Date: 05 Mar 2018

Issue

When connecting to a Microsoft Access or Microsoft Excel file, you may see the following error:

Database error 0x80004005: Unrecognized database format '[database-name]'. 
Unable to connect to the server. Check that the server is running and that you have access privileges to the requested database.

Environment

  • Tableau Desktop
  • Microsoft Access or Microsoft Excel file

Resolution

To resolve the issue, try one of the following options: 

Option 1

Install the Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 driver from the Tableau Drivers website.
Note: It may be necessary to uninstall drivers through the control panel before installing the correct version.

Option 2

Create a new Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Access file, and copy the data from the old file to the new file.

Cause

If Option 1 resolves the issue, the following are some possible causes:
  • Some features of Microsoft Office 2010 did not work with the Microsoft Access 2007 database driver
  • A Microsoft Access file contains macros.
If Option 2 resolved the issue, the database file might have been corrupted.
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