Secure a database by adding a database password

You can provide limited protection for your database by adding a password to restrict which users can open the database. Microsoft Access stores the database password in an unencrypted form. If this will compromise the security of sensitive data in the database, you should use user-level security instead of a database password.

Cautions

• Do not use a database password if you will be replicating a database. Replicated databases can't be synchronized if database passwords are defined.
• You can't set a database password if user-level security has been defined for your database and you don't have Administer permission for the database. Also, a database password is defined in addition to user-level security. If user-level security has been defined, any restrictions based on user-level security permissions remain in effect.

1. Close the database. If this is a shared database, make sure all other users have closed the database.
2. Make a backup copy of the database, and store it in a secure place.
3. On the File menu, click Open.
4. Click the arrow to the right of the Look In box, select the drive and folder where the Microsoft Access database (.mdb) is located, and then click the database's icon.
5. Click the arrow to the right of the Open button, and then click Open Exclusive.
6. On the Tools menu, point to Security, and then click Set Database Password.
7. In the Password box, type your password.

   Guidelines for passwords

   User names can range from 1 to 20 characters, and can include alphabetic characters, accented characters, numbers, spaces, and symbols, with the following exceptions:

   • The characters " \ [ ] : | < > + = ; , . ? *
   • Leading spaces
   • Control characters (ASCII 10 through ASCII 31)

   Note   Passwords are case-sensitive.

8. In the Verify box, confirm your password by typing the password again, and then click OK.

   The password is now set. The next time you or any other user opens the database, a dialog box will be displayed that requests a password.

   Important   If you lose or forget your password, it can't be recovered, and you won't be able to open your database.

Notes

• A database password is stored with the database and not with the workgroup information file.
• If a table from a password-protected database is linked, the password is cached (saved) in the database it is linked to when the link is established. This will allow anyone to see your data.