Using Security Features in Access

Removing User-Level Security

Securing a database is usually a one-way process. However, there might be instances when you want to remove security from your database. If you want to remove user-level security, perform the following procedure to reverse the process of securing your database.

Important   Before you remove user-level security from the database, make a backup copy.

To remove user-level security

1. Start Microsoft Access, and log on as a member of the Admins group.

   This can be the administrator account that you created when you secured the database, or it can be any member of the Admins group. Be sure that you’re using your own secure workgroup information file when starting Access.

2. Open the database.
3. On the Tools menu, point to Security, and then click User And Group Permissions.
4. In the User And Group Permissions dialog box, assign full permissions to the Users group for the database and all the objects in the database.

   Because all users are automatically part of the Users group, this step has the effect of concealing security again.

5. Click the Users tab, click Admin in the Name box, and then click Clear Password.

   Clearing the password for the Admin user disables the Logon dialog box that is displayed when you start Access. All users are automatically logged on as the Admin user the next time they start Access. This step disables the Logon dialog box for all databases that are using the same workgroup information file.

6. Restart Access.
7. Create a new database, and then import all objects from the secured database.

   You can accomplish this easily by using the Import command (File menu, Get External Data submenu).

The new database is completely unsecured. Anyone who can open the new database has full permissions on all its objects. The workgroup information file in use when the new database is created defines the Admins group for the new database.