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Setting a Database Password
Encrypting a database with a password requires opening it exclusively first — and Access cannot recover a lost password, so store it somewhere safe.
Field Notes: Locking the Whole File
Goal
Encrypt a database so it can't be opened at all without a password.
This is similar to the password protection available in Word and Excel, and it prevents the file from being opened at all without the correct password.
1
Reopen the file exclusively
Do this
Close the database completely, then reopen it using File, then Open, but choose "Open Exclusive" from the small dropdown arrow beside the Open button — required, since a password cannot be set while others might have it open.
More lessons in Microsoft Access · Next: User-Level Security Concepts (A Brief, Legacy Note) · Previous: Multi-User Access: Splitting a Database