Default file format: registry value default file format (settings)UserHKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\access\settings

Policy ID: L_DefaultFileFormat
Scope: User Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
Source: Microsoft 365 Apps / Office Administrative Templates (version 5568.1000)
Category: Microsoft Access 2016 › Miscellaneous

This policy setting controls whether new database files are created in the new Access format or in a format used by earlier versions of Access.

If you enable this policy setting, you can specify whether new database files are created in Access 2016 format by default or in Access 2002--2003 format. Users can still override the default and select a specific format when they save the files, but cannot set the default by themselves from the Access Options dialog.

If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, when users create new database files, Access saves them in the new Access 2016 format; however, users can change this functionality by selecting a file format from the Default file format drop down list under Access Options | Popular | Creating databases. Note: If you disable this policy setting, users can choose from three default file formats: Access 2000, Access 2002--2003, and Access 2016. You can use this policy setting to specify either the Access 2002--2003 or Access 2016 format as the default, but not the Access 2000 format.

See the full description on the Group Policy page ›

Registry

default file format

REG_DWORDUser

HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\access\settings Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: -

Options
Item	Stored value
Access 2007	12
Access 2002-2003	10
Access 2000	9

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\access\settings]

; Options (use only one)
; Access 2007
"default file format"=dword:0000000c
; Access 2002-2003
"default file format"=dword:0000000a
; Access 2000
"default file format"=dword:00000009

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Access 2007
reg add "HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\access\settings" /v "default file format" /t REG_DWORD /d 12 /f
:: Access 2002-2003
reg add "HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\access\settings" /v "default file format" /t REG_DWORD /d 10 /f
:: Access 2000
reg add "HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\access\settings" /v "default file format" /t REG_DWORD /d 9 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\access\settings' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Access 2007
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\access\settings' -Name 'default file format' -PropertyType DWord -Value 12 -Force | Out-Null
# Access 2002-2003
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\access\settings' -Name 'default file format' -PropertyType DWord -Value 10 -Force | Out-Null
# Access 2000
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\access\settings' -Name 'default file format' -PropertyType DWord -Value 9 -Force | Out-Null